Gould says Trescothick ready for Ashes rescue act

Marcus Trescothick could be talked out of international retirement in a bid to bolster England's batting at the Oval next week for their Ashes decider against Australia, according to his Somerset boss.

Marcus Trescothick could be talked out of international retirement in a bid to bolster England's batting at the Oval next week for their Ashes decider against Australia, according to his Somerset boss.

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The left-handed opener's return to England duty would be little short of sensational as he has not played Test cricket since coming home before the start of the 2006/07 Ashes tour in Australia with what was later diagnosed as a stress-related illness.

But, following England's double batting failure in their innings and 80 run fourth Test defeat by Australia at Headingley, which left the series all square at 1-1, Somerset chief executive Richard Gould has said Trescothick could play at the Oval if told he no longer had to tour.

Trescothick is the leading England qualified batsman in English first-class cricket so far this season with 1,130 runs from 18 matches at an average of over 78 with six centuries.

"Marcus is a team player and would want to abide by rules, which is what makes him so supportive of captains," Gould told Tuesday's The Times.

"I believe Marcus would be more willing to end his self-imposed retirement if he was told he did not have to be available for any tours due to his medical condition."

Trescothick, while England were struggling at Headingley last week, scored hundreds in both innings of Somerset's drawn First Division County Championship match against Warwickshire.