Vaughan backs Trescothick's 'courageous decision'

Michael Vaughan, the former England captain, has said Marcus Trescothick "deserves a huge amount of credit" for going to India to take part in the Champions League Twenty20. Vaughan believes that the recurrence of his stress-related illness, which led to Trescothick flying home mid-way through the tournament, will not adversely impact the Somerset opener's county form.

"It was a courageous decision for him [Trescothick] even to try and go there to play," Vaughan, who opened with Trescothick for England, was quoted as saying in the Daily Telegraph. "It's obviously not worked out but I spoke to him and he's fine. It's not the first time this has happened but at least he's given it a go.

"I don't think people realise what an effort it took for him even to go out there. But Tres loves his cricket and he'll be back next year, no doubt about it. He will certainly be back next season playing for Somerset and full of runs, just like he was this year."

Trescothick's illness first occurred during England's tour of India in February 2006, then reoccurred at the start of the Ashes campaign in Australia in November. In early 2008 he pulled out of a pre-season tour to Dubai after breaking down at Heathrow Airport, after which he formally announced his retirement from international cricket in March 2008.

The latest setback occurred on the morning after Somerset's defeat to Trinidad & Tobago in Bangalore and the county's chairman, Andy Nash, said Somerset were "full of admiration" for the courage it took Trescothick to make the trip to India.

"Everyone connected with the club and cricket is aware how brave it was of him and [his wife] Hayley to even travel out there in the first place," Nash said. "This is not a step back for Marcus. It was a victory for him to get there. We are full of admiration for what he has done for us. We are looking forward to him being a highly successful captain for us from next season."

Vikram Solanki, the Professional Cricketers' Association chairman, wished Trescothick a speedy recovery and said the PCA and the county game were there to help if he needed it. "Part of the PCA's intention is for these circumstances - to provide assistance when it is needed," Solanki said. "It's just a question of what sort of help Marcus requires. There is quite clearly a provision for counselling if that is what is needed. Certainly there is always someone on the end of the phone if it is needed. We're a pretty close-knit unit around county cricket and I'm sure there will be no shortage of people on hand to help if he so requires."

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Durston: We missed Trescothick

Somerset batsman Wesley Durston admitted that they missed the service of the experienced Marcus Trescothick in their loss to Diamond Eagles.
Trescothick returned home on Thursday midway through the USD six million tournament after a recurrence of his stress-related illness.

"You always going to miss an international player. Marcus is an important player. We miss the experience he brings and his batting. We may need to reshape the batting order," Durston said after the match.

The Eagles bowlers restricted the English outfit to a modest 132 for eight wickets in the Super Eight League B match and then overhauled the target in 18.4 overs at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium.

"It's very disappointing to lose. Mathematically, now we have a chance," Durston said.

Somerset's run in the tournament has been far from impressive with the English side just about managing to book a place in the league stage after Trinidad and Tobago beat Deccan Chargers in the last Group A match.

Meanwhile, Eagles vice-captain Shadley Van Schalkwyk praised C J de Villiers, who scalped four wickets for just 17 runs and revealed that the pitch also offered a lot to bowlers.

"I think, it is the ground and the big haul of CJ. If you take early wickets in Twenty 20 cricket, you take the wind out of the sails of the team and you create a little bit of momentum.

"That momentum created by CJ's wickets and just got us through the rest of the innings. We got wickets at regular intervals. When we went out to bat, we knew one partnership is needed to keep the intent going on," Schalkwyk said.

"We had a completely different approach. It was a massive change. In Delhi, you don't know where your next run is going to come from. On a wicket like this, you can trust your instincts a bit more," he added.

Schalkwyk also hinted on maintaining the winning combination in the next match against T&T on Sunday.

"We are going to try pretty much the same thing on Sunday. We will have a conversation, have a look at the game, little bit of planning and just refresh and give it all," he said.

"I don't want to go home with any regret. So we are going to enjoy it and enjoy the moment. It might be a loss and might not be a loss, but it is a fantastic tournament," he added.

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Rose admits Trescothick was a risk

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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"No replacement for Trescothick"

Somerset cricket director Brian Rose, who believes Marcus Trescothick can be a good captain.

Q: Why did Marcus Trescothick leave?

Ans: Well, it is really disappointing and unfortunate for the team. We all know he has had some real problems, which have been well reported over the last two or three years.

Marcus had been telling me that he wasn't as fit as he should have been in an intense tournament like the Airtel CL T20.

All the teams here needed players who were at the peak of their mental and physical abilities and Marcus was honest when he said that he could not give the team his all.

I think that was very fair and quite strong of Marcus.

Q: Will you be going for any replacement - supposing you reach semis and the final?

Ans: No. We won't be going for any replacement. We have got enough batting strength at the moment. We have one in the 18-year-old Jason Butler. He is also in the under-19 Wolrd Cup team, which is already in Bangladesh.

He will be joining them soon. The reason we have asked him to stay with us is he can gain some experience. But we may not be pushing him straight in front of the huge crowds here.

Q: Having had a fantastic domestic season Trescothick came to India with big hopes and the crowds here wanted to see him - so his departure must have personally disappointed you too?

Ans: Of course it is a huge disappointment for everyone. But the cricket public in England has seen what pressure can do to international sportsmen.

We have several examples of that, Marcus is one.

However, I don't think his professional career is over for Somerset. I reckon he still has good four or five years of cricket left.

In fact I expect him to take over as Somerset captain next year. You will continue to see some great performances from him.

As of now Marcus playing abroad looks doubtful but he will be playing domestic cricket.

Q: Can he be expected to play soon in any competition?

Ans: We will be off for three to four weeks when we go back from the Airtel CL T20.

We start our winter programme in the middle of November. I am sure Marcus will be eager to join us then.

Q: What happens when current skipper Justin Langer leaves?

Ans: Well that is fine. Things move on. We can move on as a club. Yes, he has done a fantastic job; there is no doubt about that. His and the coach Adny Hury's training and coaching methods are different and just brilliant. But we are hoping to go keep going up. The grass is going to grow further.

I think Murali Karthik is doing a great job with our young spinners and I think Treschothik can be a great captain.

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