Somerset Director of Cricket Brian Rose admits he knew he was taking a risk in selecting Marcus Trescothick for the Champions League after the batsman returned home following a reccurrence of his stress-related illness.
It is the third time that Trescothick has been forced home early from a tour by the problem, while last year he pulled out of Somerset's pre-season tour to Dubai at the last minute having already checked in his baggage at Heathrow Airport.
Rose declined to go into details of Trescothick's condition in accordance with strict doctor-patient policies and insisted the county were grateful for the left-hander's efforts, but confirmed he knew beforehand that there was a good chance Trescothick might not go the distance.
"I think with a past history you always get the feeling that yes, it might happen," he told a press conference in Hyderabad.
"As a director of cricket you put your squad together and you make your arrangements. I had the feeling what may happen, may happen.
"Actually I accompanied Marcus and (his wife) Hayley on the plane coming out to India and he was absolutely fine. We came out four days after the team arrived and we had a good time and a very good chat. Long-distance travel gives you the opportunity to get to know each other better and we had no problem at all."
Somerset, who take on the Eagles in a must-win clash on Friday, will not replace Trescothick for the remainder of the tour.
The tipping point came after Somerset's heavy defeat to Trinidad and Tobago in Bangalore on Monday. Trescothick scored just three runs as the English side lost by 44 runs to a vibrant Trini side, and the former England batsman was unable to continue.
Rose said: "He was very honest to me after that, he said: 'Look, I'm only firing at 60 to 70 per cent'. I think that was a very honest appraisal and as a cricket director, a captain or a coach you have to sit down and discuss what you want to do, and you come to the obvious conclusion that the best thing is for him to go home."
It appears that Trescothick never felt completely comfortable in India but was buoyed by Somerset's last-ball win over the Deccan Chargers here on Saturday. He said afterwards that while not entirely "sorted", he would consider taking up an IPL contract if this tour went well.
Those hopes have now been shattered and Rose feels that the Champions League, with its frequent travel and fast pace, was a difficult tournament for Trescothick to have tested the waters.
"This particular competition is such an intense competition because you've got so many great players from around the world playing in a very limited amount of time," said Rose. "It's very intense, and you need 11 people in your team that are mentally and physically 100 per cent. You can't do it otherwise."
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