Marcus Trescothick called up by England
Marcus Trescothick makes his first appearance in the England Test Match squad: he is one of 13 players named by the selectors for the Third Cornhill Test Match against West Indies at Old Trafford from 3rd-7th August and his inclusion follows
Staff and agencies
24-Jul-2000
Recall, too, for Thorpe
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Marcus Trescothick Photo © CricInfo |
Marcus Trescothick makes his first appearance in the England Test Match
squad: he is one of 13 players named by the selectors for the Third Cornhill
Test Match against West Indies at Old Trafford from 3rd-7th August and his
inclusion follows impressive performances in the NatWest Series. The
Somerset opener will partner Michael Atherton at Manchester. Graham Thorpe, too, has been recalled on the basis of his improved form over the last month, while Mark Ramprakash and Nick Knight have been omitted from the team that won the Second Test Match at Lord's.
Trescothick - Test level will be a new challenge
Trescothick admitted that "It's going to be a little different playing Test
cricket, but I feel that I have been playing well for England in the NatWest
Series and also for Somerset so hopefully I can carry that on. I've played against Walsh, Ambrose and Rose in county cricket before and also faced Reon King at under-19 level but playing against at Test level will be a new challenge and I'm looking forward to it. It will be nice to partner Michael Atherton in his 100th Test and you can only learn from batting with some-one like him who has got so much experience at this level".
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Graham Thorpe Photo © CricInfo |
Graveney explains early announcement
In announcing the team, David Graveney, Chairman of Selectors, explained:
"We have announced the squad earlier than usual to enable the Coach, in
conjunction with the selectors, to take a view on which players should
participate in the next round of PPP Healthcare County Championship matches.
After discussions with his fellow-selectors, Duncan Fletcher will make a
decision within the next 48 hours on which players will play four-day games
starting this Friday. In naming thirteen players, we have given ourselves
plenty of options in terms of a final eleven".
Trescothick's impressive performances
Graveney then outlined the reasons for the selection. "Mark Ramprakash has stated a case for opening in international cricket this summer and has had to play against two world-class fast bowlers in Walsh and Ambrose on wickets that haven't been straightforward. But after his impressive performances in the NatWest Series, we have decided that Marcus Trescothick deserves a chance in Test cricket and he will open the innings with Michael Atherton at Old Trafford. With regard to Nick Knight, it was a difficult decision between him and Graham Thorpe, but Graham's improved form over the last month tipped the scales in his favour".
England Squad
Players D.O.B Tests Nasser Hussain (Captain) (Essex) 28.03.68 50 Michael Atherton (Lancashire) 23.03.68 99 Andrew Caddick (Somerset) 21.11.68 34 Dominic Cork (Derbyshire)* 07.08.71 28 Robert Croft (Glamorgan)* 25.05.70 16 Darren Gough (Yorkshire) 18.09.70 40 Graeme Hick (Worcestershire) 23.05.66 58 Matthew Hoggard (Yorkshire)* 31.12.76 1 Alec Stewart (Surrey) 08.04.63 99 Marcus Trescothick (Somerset)* 25.12.75 0 Graham Thorpe (Surrey)* 01.08.69 57 Michael Vaughan (Yorkshire) 29.10.74 5 Craig White (Yorkshire) 16.12.69 9 * denotes non-contracted player