Tuesday 31 July 2007 22:59, UK
Marcus Trescothick has made himself unavailable for England's winter tours.
Marcus Trescothick has ruled himself out of contention for England's winter programme.Trescothick, 31, does not feel ready to return to international cricket due to an ongoing stress-related illness.
The Somerset opening batsman has not featured for England since flying home early from the Ashes tour last November due to the same problem.
After easing his way back into the domestic game with Somerset this season, Trescothick was named in England's provisional 30-man squad for September's Twenty20 World Championship in South Africa.
But he has now ruled himself out of that event and the tours of Sri Lanka and New Zealand that follow.
"Whilst I have been enjoying my cricket for Somerset this summer and feel that I am making good progress, I need to ensure that I am completely ready for a return to international cricket before making myself available for selection," said Trescothick.
"I recently informed the selectors that I was happy to be included in the 30-man squad for the Twenty20 World Cup to leave all options open, but I am now clear that I should take more time to complete my recovery.
"I still have ambitions to play for England."
Trescothick's decision not to tour this winter could signal the end of an international career that has spanned 76 Tests and 123 one-day internationals.
But England's chairman of selectors David Graveney offered words of encouragement for a man described as 'a very special talent'.
"The selectors have been acutely conscious that it would be counter-productive to try to rush Marcus back into international action before he was ready," said Graveney.
"We appreciate the fact that Marcus has alerted us at the earliest opportunity of his decision, which will avoid there being any disruption to the team's one-day planning processes.
"Marcus has proved himself to be a very special talent on the international stage and we look forward to his making himself available again for England when the time is right and to his pushing his case for selection through his performances for Somerset."
