I returned to work today after three weeks of post-surgery rest and rehabilitation. Marcus Trescothick left work today after four days of cricket and a measly ten runs on England’s Ashes Tour.
The Somerset opener has suffered a reoccurrence of the “stress-related� illness which kept him out of the ICC Champions Trophy in India and, do you know what, I think it is probably for the best.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m not hammering the guy for struggling with stress - although it has to be said there are more stressful jobs to do than playing cricket - because stress can do horrible and strange things to people.
It’s just that an intense Ashes Tour where the Australians are foaming at the mouth to reclaim the famous little Urn is not the place for a fragile and unstable mind.
The Australia captain Ricky Ponting suggested last week that there were lines you did not cross in sport and that nobody in a baggy green cap would be targeting Trescothick’s mental health. Yeah right, Ricky. That’s a bit like saying to a boxer “I know you have a suspect chin, but I’m not going to smack it really hard, honest.�
In fact, when I heard the rodent like Ponting’s comments I instantly burst into a cry of Jimmy Hill, Jimmy Hill. For those of you not aware of the Jimmy Hill, Jimmy Hill phrase from your childhood, this is a way to cast doubt on the statement of another by shouting said phrase while vigorously scratching your chin to suggest other person is a liar.
Ponting and his fellow colonials would have gone for Trescothick like a lion hauling down a gazelle by the throat. Sorry, but every sport in Australia is like a blood sport and, pride stung after last summer, I just cannot believe that Trescothick would not have been subjected to verbal torture every time he came to the crease. England cannot afford to take that risk.
His departure is naturally not ideal preparation for the First Test in Brisbane next week, but I wonder if he shouted “I’m A Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here� before booking his flight back to Blighty.
Imagine the furore if Marcus turned up as a participant on the ITV show in the next couple of days. After all, having tired of the grind of international cricket he might be looking for a change of career and I’m A Celebrity... certainly worked for Phil Tufnell to re-invent himself.
Where this leaves England is unclear, although it should mean Durham’s Paul Collingwood holds on to his place in the side for the First Test. Alistair Cook will be the obvious choice to open with Andrew Strauss, with Ian Bell at three, Kevin Pietersen at four, Collingwood at five and Andrew Flintoff at six.
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