ME Trescothick of England

Full Name:

Marcus Edward Trescothick

DoB:

Thursday, December 25, 1975

Birthplace:

Keynsham

Teams:

Somerset

Test Debut:

v West Indies at Manchester (Old Trafford), 2000

ODI Debut:

v Zimbabwe at The Oval, 2000

Bats:

LH

Bowls:

RAM

Player Record:

link to stats

Marcus Trescothick has a fine Test record against all sides except Australia, who have kept his average below 30 in two Test series.

The major problem he had was dealing with the slanting angles of Jason Gillespie, who grabbed his wicket seven times in the two series. Gillespie may be a less threatening bowler now, but Glenn McGrath will also challenge Trescothick's lack of foot movement.

In Trescothick's favour is that he is a better and more consistent player than when he last faced Australia. In fact, his spectacular run feats over the past 12 months have been overlooked because of the emergence of Andrew Strauss.

But in his last 13 Tests the Somerset left-hander has made seven hundreds, including the magnificent 180 in the 4th Test at Johannesburg that set up an historic England 2-1 series win. Against Bangladesh he made two belligerent hundreds and was only dismissed when he became bored with the unequal struggle.

Prior to that 13-Test run, Trescothick had made five hundreds and 23 fifties in his previous 48 games, and been criticised for his poor conversion rate of fifties to hundreds.

Put simply, Trescothick is throwing it away a lot less than he used to, his irritating tendency to swat leaden-footedly outside the off stump having diminished.

Indeed his two masterful winter centuries against the nagging line of Shaun Pollock suggested he is improving his shot selection. Against Australia he will need great self-discipline early in his innings to prosper.

There's definitely going to be an ongoing battle between Marcus Trescothick and Glenn McGrath.

Trescothick's a powerful lad and he's got a strong character, but his foot has always been a long way from the ball. McGrath will test him because he's the best line and length bowler in the world.

McGrath can consistently bowl balls in a cluster so he's going to put Trescothick's technique under serious pressure. His lack of footwork and technique make him especially vulnerable around off stump and his judgement there is not good.

McGrath's got him out before and he's going to fancy him again. So when Australia are bowling at England don't miss the first half hour or you might miss Trescothick.

The strength of Trescothick's game is that, if he gets in, he's a big hundred man. But you have to survive and the first hour is crucial for him. Technically he has never tried to improve; he has accepted what he does well and what he does badly.