Trescothick talks about tour departure
A full transcript of Marcus Trescothick's interview with Sky Sports News
12-Apr-2006
In his first interview since leaving England's tour of India, Marcus Trescothick spoke to Ian Ward on Sky Sports News on what forced him home, how he is feeling now and his hopes for the coming season. Below is a transcript of that interview.
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I'm good - it's nice to be back up and enjoying things again. It's going pretty well really. The sun's out, it's great, Taunton's looking magnificent, so I'm itching to get back into it.
Back in training then?
Yeah, I've been going for about 3 weeks of gym work, just working hard and getting my fitness up to the levels they need to be. Cricket wise, I've done a couple of nets, nothing too drastic just yet. But as I said, I'm gagging to get back into it, I'm picking my bat up and getting ready.
Yeah, I've been going for about 3 weeks of gym work, just working hard and getting my fitness up to the levels they need to be. Cricket wise, I've done a couple of nets, nothing too drastic just yet. But as I said, I'm gagging to get back into it, I'm picking my bat up and getting ready.
It has been a tough winter for you - are your problems behind you, or do you still have a few issues to sort out?
No, very much behind me - I just needed a break pretty much. Playing six years of solid international cricket just takes it toll after a while and you get to certain stages of your career and you know there are reasons why what you need to do is just be with your family, take a bit of time out, recharge the batteries and then go again and obviously move on, play a good standard of cricket and hopefully play internationals again.
No, very much behind me - I just needed a break pretty much. Playing six years of solid international cricket just takes it toll after a while and you get to certain stages of your career and you know there are reasons why what you need to do is just be with your family, take a bit of time out, recharge the batteries and then go again and obviously move on, play a good standard of cricket and hopefully play internationals again.
So why did you leave India - was it to spend more time with your family?
The main reason was I picked up a bug while I was out there, the second part of Bombay when we were there at the end of that trip, and it really hit me hard. I wasn't sleeping and I couldn't shake it off really and we moved on to Baroda, it just didn't get any better, I couldn't eat too much, I wasn't really drinking and it really took its toll on me and it got to the point when I said look, I'm pretty fatigued here. I was struggling to concentrate on my cricket, as much as I can do obviously leading up to a big Test match and prepare myself in the right way. So I spoke to obviously the people that I needed to and decided that the right thing to do was to come home.
The main reason was I picked up a bug while I was out there, the second part of Bombay when we were there at the end of that trip, and it really hit me hard. I wasn't sleeping and I couldn't shake it off really and we moved on to Baroda, it just didn't get any better, I couldn't eat too much, I wasn't really drinking and it really took its toll on me and it got to the point when I said look, I'm pretty fatigued here. I was struggling to concentrate on my cricket, as much as I can do obviously leading up to a big Test match and prepare myself in the right way. So I spoke to obviously the people that I needed to and decided that the right thing to do was to come home.
So from that period in Bombay when you picked that bug up, did you keep Duncan Fletcher and Michael Vaughan in constant updates in how you were feeling or did it build up for a while?
It sort of just took its toll. I don't think it was a case of me having to inform them that I wasn't well - we played warm up matches and I stayed involved in those. I was in constant communication with the doctor Peter Gregory out there just sort of letting him know how I was going. He was obviously keeping a constant eye in terms of how I was feeling just to make sure everything was alright. When I finally made the decision, I spoke to Duncan, they were thoroughly supportive and accepted what I needed to do and supported me all the way through it.
It sort of just took its toll. I don't think it was a case of me having to inform them that I wasn't well - we played warm up matches and I stayed involved in those. I was in constant communication with the doctor Peter Gregory out there just sort of letting him know how I was going. He was obviously keeping a constant eye in terms of how I was feeling just to make sure everything was alright. When I finally made the decision, I spoke to Duncan, they were thoroughly supportive and accepted what I needed to do and supported me all the way through it.
There's an awful lot of cricket coming up - the whole international programme for everyone around the world is now massive. Is there a chance this will happen again?
Who knows? The virus is a funny one - it has stuck with me for such a long time, up til about three weeks ago I was getting relapses if I trained too hard or came back too quick. I really thought I could hit the gym hard, then it seemed to knock me back for a couple of days so if I picked up another virus I wouldn't think it would affect me in any different way. I think having this time to really recharge my batteries and really have a rest, it made me realise again why I play the game and that I love playing the game and giving me that enthusiasm. We play so much. We spend 300 nights of the year out of our own house, either travelling the world or in hotels preparing for games in England so I think there are times when you do need to have a rest and that was definitely the one. Unfortunately the two tours - Pakistan and India, which are tough tours to go on, the hardest to do, it's not easy to take your families to that part of the world and you spend a long time away from home. You need your comforts and your security to be able to perform at a good level.
Who knows? The virus is a funny one - it has stuck with me for such a long time, up til about three weeks ago I was getting relapses if I trained too hard or came back too quick. I really thought I could hit the gym hard, then it seemed to knock me back for a couple of days so if I picked up another virus I wouldn't think it would affect me in any different way. I think having this time to really recharge my batteries and really have a rest, it made me realise again why I play the game and that I love playing the game and giving me that enthusiasm. We play so much. We spend 300 nights of the year out of our own house, either travelling the world or in hotels preparing for games in England so I think there are times when you do need to have a rest and that was definitely the one. Unfortunately the two tours - Pakistan and India, which are tough tours to go on, the hardest to do, it's not easy to take your families to that part of the world and you spend a long time away from home. You need your comforts and your security to be able to perform at a good level.
So you are prepared to tour again?
Oh for sure. It's just an ideal opportunity for me to have a rest. I've played six years of non-stop cricket for England travelling around the world and before that A tours, as you know we went on those together, and Under-19's so for 12 years it has been non-stop cricket. I'm making myself available for Somerset at the start of the year and hopefully things will then flow from that.
Oh for sure. It's just an ideal opportunity for me to have a rest. I've played six years of non-stop cricket for England travelling around the world and before that A tours, as you know we went on those together, and Under-19's so for 12 years it has been non-stop cricket. I'm making myself available for Somerset at the start of the year and hopefully things will then flow from that.
So will you be opening the batting against Sri Lanka at Lord's next month?
I hope so. I would love to be given the opportunity again. My main priority at the moment is to get in the nets, get working hard, play well for Somerset at the start of the year, then it's up to other people to decide if I'm to get back in the team.
I hope so. I would love to be given the opportunity again. My main priority at the moment is to get in the nets, get working hard, play well for Somerset at the start of the year, then it's up to other people to decide if I'm to get back in the team.
Some would say with leaving the tour you've let England down. How would you respond to that?
I don't think so to be honest. I think people will realise. I've had a lot of support, players and management and I think that says a lot for me. I know I've made the right decision. I'm sure I've made the right decision. It was just unfortunate with the timing, obviously with everyone else going down as well it was just highlighted it a bit more.
I don't think so to be honest. I think people will realise. I've had a lot of support, players and management and I think that says a lot for me. I know I've made the right decision. I'm sure I've made the right decision. It was just unfortunate with the timing, obviously with everyone else going down as well it was just highlighted it a bit more.