Tresco back on track?

After Marcus Trecothick’s epic departure from the Ashes, which was the catalyst for the England top order’s abject failure to score anything like a decent total ever since, he’s put the cat amongst the pigeons once again by showing us exactly what we’re missing in the side at the moment. After surgery for a double-hernia and presumably a recovery from the mystery stress-related illness that kept him out of the Champions Trophy as well as the Ashes, Tresco’s first outing for Somerset wasn’t a gentle run about in the park – it was a brutal annihilation who was foolhardy enough to bowl at him. Admittedly, it was only against a minor county bowling attack and at Taunton which is one of the smaller county grounds, but still, 256 off 117 balls is nothing short of remarkable. I especially enjoyed Robert Dawson’s comment, after Tresco was run out:

“That was the probably the only way we’d have got him out. There was a chance he might have got 400 – I think there were about 20 overs left in the innings,” Dawson added.

Crikey. Of course, all this has done is build the speculation on whether Tresco should be playing for England. This is only one innings but given the recent performances of the England side, they could use all the help they could get. He certainly has the form to play – but does he have the mental fortitude? Should he even be allowed to play again, after twice ditching the England side?

My gut feeling is no, he shouldn’t. The England side needs form, but it also needs consistency and to have Tresco’s mental well-being as a constant concern would not help build that consistency, especially when the younger players, such as Ravi Bopara are taking every opportunity to make a mark on the side. If Tresco said he was fit to play, would we really be able to believe him?

However, there’s a feeling of “cutting off your nose to spite your face about it” as Trescothick is undoubtely one of, if not the, best opening batsman in England and he could make a massive difference on the England line-up. Emphasis on the “could”. At the moment, it’s wait-and-see time. But before long, the question will need to be answered and there’s no easy answer.

What do you think?