Marcus Trescothick facts for kids

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Marcus Trescothick

Trescothick in 2007

Personal information

Full name

Marcus Edward Trescothick

Born

25 December 1975 (age 49)
Keynsham, Somerset, England

Nickname

Tresco, Banger

Height

6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)

Batting

Left-handed

Bowling

Right-arm medium

Role

Opening batsman

International information

National side

England (2000–2006)

Test debut (cap 603)

3 August 2000 v West Indies

Last Test

17 August 2006 v Pakistan

ODI debut (cap 158)

8 July 2000 v Zimbabwe

Last ODI

5 September 2006 v Pakistan

ODI shirt no.

T20I debut (cap 10)

13 June 2005 v Australia

Last T20I

28 August 2006 v Pakistan

T20I shirt no.

Domestic team information

Years

Team

1993–2019

Somerset (squad no. 2)

Career statistics

Competition	Test	ODI	FC	LA
Matches	76	123	391	372
Runs scored	5,825	4,335	26,234	12,229
Batting average	43.79	37.37	41.05	37.28
100s/50s	14/29	12/21	66/127	28/63
Top score	219	137	284	184
Balls bowled	300	232	2,704	2,010
Wickets	1	4	36	57
Bowling average	155.00	54.75	43.08	28.84
5 wickets in innings	0	0	0	0
10 wickets in match	0	0	0	0
Best bowling	1/34	2/7	4/36	4/50
Catches/stumpings	95/–	49/–	560/–	149/–

Source: ESPN Cricinfo, 6 June 2019

Marcus Edward Trescothick OBE (born 25 December 1975) is a famous English former cricketer. He played for Somerset County Cricket Club for many years. He also represented England in 76 Test matches and 123 One Day Internationals.

Marcus was a captain for Somerset from 2010 to 2016. He also led the England team for a short time in some Tests and ODIs. After he stopped playing, he became a cricket commentator and coach. He has worked at both county and international levels.

He was a left-handed opening batsman. This means he was one of the first two players to bat for his team. He started playing for Somerset in 1993 and quickly became a key player. Marcus made his One Day International (ODI) debut in July 2000 against Zimbabwe. His Test debut followed in August against the West Indies.

Marcus was known for hitting the ball hard and scoring runs quickly. He once held the record for the most ODI centuries (scores of 100 runs or more) by an English player. He also hit the fastest half-century (50 runs) in English Twenty20 cricket. Marcus was also a great slip fielder, catching many balls close to the wicket. Sometimes, he even bowled a bit or acted as a wicket-keeper.

From 2000 to 2006, Marcus was always chosen to play for England. But then, a health issue related to stress made him leave the national team. He started playing for Somerset again in 2007. He scored two double-centuries that season. However, he decided not to return to international cricket. He officially retired from playing for England in March 2008. He chose to keep playing for Somerset. He finally retired from all cricket in 2019. He holds many batting records for Somerset. Today, he is the main batting coach for the England Test team.

Early Life and Cricket Beginnings

Marcus Edward Trescothick was born on Christmas Day, 25 December 1975, in Keynsham, Somerset. He was the younger of two children. His dad, Martyn, was a good amateur cricketer. He even played a few matches for Somerset's second team. Marcus's mom, Linda, made the teas for the local cricket club.

Marcus loved cricket from a very young age. When he was born, the local newspaper quoted his dad saying, "he will have every encouragement to become a cricketer." Marcus got his first cricket bat when he was only eleven months old!

Playing for School and County

When he was at St Anne's primary school, Marcus was picked to play for the Avon School under-11 cricket team. He scored his first century for Avon, hitting 124 runs against Devon. A few weeks later, he scored 183 runs and was still not out when his coach stopped the innings. The coach said, "if I let him get a double-hundred at his age, what else would he have to aim for?"

This big score got attention from local media. Gloucestershire County Cricket Club invited him to play for their under-11 team. In his second match for Gloucestershire, he scored a century against Somerset. Somerset then found out that Marcus lived in Keynsham and could play for them. He switched to Somerset, which made him proud to play for his dad's old county.

He went to Sir Bernard Lovell School near Bristol. By age 14, he was playing alongside his dad for Keynsham in the Western League. Around the same time, he was chosen for the England under-14s team. Future England stars Andrew Flintoff and Paul Collingwood were also on that team.

Growing Up as a Cricketer

In his book, Coming Back to Me, Marcus remembers being bigger than most kids his age. This gave him a strength advantage, helping him hit the ball harder. People sometimes worried about his "portly" (a bit chubby) figure. They suggested he needed to work on his fitness.

The next season, at 15, Marcus scored 4,000 runs across all the teams he played for. This included the Somerset under-19s. The Cricketer magazine named him the "outstanding young cricketer of the year." He got the nicknames Tresco and Banger. "Banger" came from his favorite food when he was young:

My diet was sausages then, in no particular order, sausages, chips, sausages, toast, sausages, beans, sausages, cheese, sausages, eggs, and the occasional sausage.

Early Professional Career

Marcus's first full season at Somerset was in 1994. It was one of his best. He scored 925 runs, including two centuries and eight half-centuries. His batting average was an impressive 48.63.

He had already played for the English U-19 cricket team in 1993 and 1994. In 1995, he was made captain for two Under-19 series. His total of 1,032 runs for England U-19 is one of the highest ever.

Trescothick warms up at Taunton for Somerset, in June 2007

His domestic cricket wasn't as strong in 1995. But he still had highlights, like scoring 151 runs against Northamptonshire. He also took a hat-trick for Somerset against Young Australia. His England Under-19 form was still excellent, averaging 74.62. His Under-19 teammates used to tease him for wearing an England blazer after matches. Marcus would say, "it might be the closest I get to playing for England."

The next five years were a bit up and down for Marcus. He often averaged around 30 runs per innings. Some people said he didn't move his feet enough when batting. However, he won the NBC Denis Compton Award in 1996 and 1997. This award is for Somerset's most promising young player. In 1997, he scored an amazing 322 runs for Somerset Second XI.

Joining the England Team

In 1999, Marcus impressed Glamorgan coach Duncan Fletcher. He scored 167 runs in a county match. When England opening batsman Nick Knight got injured in 2000, Fletcher, who was now England coach, called Marcus up. This was his chance to play for England in the NatWest Series.

Once Marcus started playing for England in 2000, he was usually busy with international matches until 2006. This meant he didn't play much for Somerset during those years.

International Cricket Career

Marcus's full One Day International debut was against Zimbabwe on 9 July 2000. He scored 79 runs. He continued to play well in the tournament. He scored 87 not out against the West Indies and was named Man of the Match.

Because he played so well, Marcus made his Test match debut later that summer. It was against the West Indies in August 2000. He scored 66 runs and showed he could stay calm when England lost early wickets. He ended that Test series with a good average of 47.50.

Trescothick celebrates scoring a limited-overs half-century

First International Centuries

Marcus scored his first international century in October 2000. This was during a warm-up match before the Pakistan series. He scored his highest Test score of 71 in the first Test against Pakistan. He also took his only Test wicket in the third Test.

On the tour to Sri Lanka, Marcus started with another century. He was the top scorer in both innings of the first Test, with 122 and 57 runs. He averaged 41.33 in the Test series.

In June 2001, England played two Test matches against Pakistan. Marcus scored 117 in the second Test. His ODI form improved in the 2001 NatWest Series against Australia and Pakistan. He scored 69 and 137 runs in two matches.

Becoming a Top Batsman

Marcus was England's second-highest run scorer in the 2001 Ashes series. But he sometimes got out after scoring well. England lost the series 4–1.

He really shone on the winter tour of India in 2001. In the three-Test series, he averaged 48.00, with a top score of 99. He was England's best batsman in the ODI series, averaging 53.00. He scored a century in the first ODI. He became known for staying calm when his teammates struggled. Indian Cricket named him one of their five Cricketers of the Year for 2002.

In 2002, Marcus played very well. He scored 161 in the Sri Lankan series. He was named Player of the Series in the NatWest Series, scoring a century in the final. But his season was cut short when he broke his thumb while fielding. He returned for the fourth Test against India, scoring two half-centuries.

In October, Marcus was one of 11 players to get "central contracts" from the ECB. These contracts pay players' county teams because they play less domestic cricket.

Success in 2003 and 2004

Trescothick was a successful left-handed opening batsman for England for a number of years

Marcus played well against Zimbabwe in 2003. He scored an unbeaten century in the ODIs against Pakistan, averaging over 100. His great form continued in the 2003 NatWest Series. He scored 114 not out against South Africa. He and Vikram Solanki made 200 runs together, which was a record for England's first-wicket partnership.

Marcus kept up his form in the South Africa Test matches. He scored his career-best of 219 runs at The Oval. This made it a very successful series for him.

His form was mixed during the tour to the West Indies in 2004. He struggled in the Test series at first. But he topped England's batting averages in the 7-match one-day series. He scored 267 runs, including 130 in one match.

Back in England, Marcus was asked to captain England when Michael Vaughan was injured. The extra responsibility didn't affect his batting. He formed a strong partnership with new player Andrew Strauss. This partnership became very successful. Marcus scored 132 runs in the second Test against New Zealand. He then became the first player to score centuries in both innings of a Test match at Edgbaston. He was the ninth England player to do this.

The 2005 Ashes Series

Trescothick's England ODI shirt

Marcus played even better in the 2005 Ashes series than in the previous one. He was the second-highest run scorer for England. During the third Test, he became the fastest player to reach 5,000 runs in Test cricket. He also scored over 1,000 Test runs in a calendar year for the third year in a row. He scored 1,004 in 2003, 1,003 in 2004, and 1,323 in 2005.

An innings-by-innings breakdown of Trescothick's Test match batting career, showing runs scored (red bars) and the average of the last ten innings (blue line).

Marcus was named one of the five Wisden Cricketers of the Year for his great achievements in 2005. He also received an MBE award in 2006, along with the rest of the English team.

For the Test series against Pakistan, Marcus was again offered the captaincy. This was because Vaughan was injured. He scored 193 runs in the first innings.

Health Challenges and Retirement from England

In February 2006, during England's tour of India, Marcus suddenly went home. He later said it was due to personal reasons, and then a virus.

Marcus returned to Test cricket in May. He scored 106 against Sri Lanka. This was a high point for him that summer. In September, he left the remaining matches against Pakistan. He also asked not to be considered for the upcoming 2006 ICC Champions Trophy. This was because of a health issue related to stress. It was later thought that Marcus was suffering from clinical depression. This was the cause of many of his difficulties in 2006.

Marcus was included in the squad for the 2006-07 Ashes series in Australia. But on 14 November, England announced he was flying home. It was due to his "stress-related illness" returning. Some people criticized Marcus, but many respected players supported him. They understood the challenges he faced.

Recovery and International Retirement

Somerset opening batsmen Matthew Wood and Trescothick, who had a "prolific" 2007 domestic season.

Marcus announced that he wanted to play for England again in the future. England's team management continued to support him. He recovered from a hernia operation. He started his comeback to cricket by scoring 256 runs in a match against Devon in April 2007.

His return to county cricket continued with a fast half-century. In May, he hit a career-best 284 runs against Northamptonshire. But Marcus said he didn't feel ready for international Test matches yet. He later pulled out of the Twenty20 World Championship squad. He said he needed more time to recover.

Trescothick leaves a straight ball at Taunton during his benefit year at Somerset in 2008.

His good form in domestic cricket continued. He scored 146 and 69 not out against Northamptonshire, helping Somerset win. He had a great 2007 season. He scored 1,343 runs and helped Somerset win the Division 2 championship. He was given a benefit year in 2008.

On 15 March 2008, Marcus had to pull out of Somerset's pre-season tour. His health condition had returned. This made it seem unlikely he would play for England again. On 22 March 2008, he officially retired from international cricket. He said it was "a lot more difficult than [he] expected" to return to the international stage. He wanted to keep playing domestic cricket.

In his book, Coming Back to Me, Marcus explained that he had suffered from anxiety attacks since he was 10. He said that playing domestic cricket meant he was always close to his family. The book was praised for its honesty. Despite requests from other players, Marcus stuck to his decision. He put his health and family first. His book won the 2008 William Hill Sports Book of the Year award.

Later County Career

Marcus continued his career with Somerset in 2009. He had a benefit year and even a new stand at the cricket ground named after him. He averaged 46.59 in four-day games, scoring three centuries. He also became a patron (supporter) of Anxiety UK.

As the season went on, Marcus played well in all types of cricket. He scored 69 runs from 47 balls in one match. He also became the first player in the country to score 1,000 first-class runs in the 2009 season. He finished the season as the top run scorer in the County Championship, with 1,817 runs.

After Justin Langer left, Marcus was named Somerset captain from 2010. He said, "Being made captain is a huge honour for me... I've been a player for 17 years and I believe the time is right for me to take on the role." He was also named the PCA Player of the Year for his 2,934 runs in all competitions in 2009.

Champions League Twenty20 and Health

Somerset was the runner-up in the English 2009 Twenty20 Cup. So, Marcus and his team went to India for the Champions League Twenty20 in October. This was his first overseas trip since his health issues began. There was a lot of talk about whether his stress-related illness would return. Marcus said, "I know the risk... I can only try. It's a big competition for the players and for the club."

Unfortunately, Marcus's health issues did return. He went home on 15 October, citing the same "stress related illness." Somerset's director of cricket, Brian Rose, said Marcus's future would be in domestic cricket. Many people praised Marcus's "courageous" decision to put his health first. Despite leaving the tour, Marcus signed a new three-year contract with Somerset. He was named captain for the 2010 season.

Captaincy and Records

Trescothick batting for Somerset against Yorkshire in 2010

Marcus led Somerset as captain in 2010. He started strongly in the County Championship. In a Twenty20 match against Hampshire, Marcus hit a half-century from just 13 balls. This was a record for the fastest fifty in English domestic Twenty20 cricket. He ended up scoring 78 runs from only 32 balls. He led Somerset to be runners-up in all three English domestic competitions that year.

In 2011, Marcus had a very strong season. He was the first batsman in the country to score 1,000 championship runs. He won the 2011 season MVP (Most Valuable Player) award. He ended 2011 with six centuries in the County Championship.

Marcus continued to play for Somerset. In 2012, he missed some games due to an ankle injury. He also struggled with his batting form for a while. But he still wanted to keep playing cricket for many more years. He also started working as a commentator for Sky Sports.

In 2013, Marcus didn't score a century for the first time since 1998. But he was still the second-highest run scorer for Somerset. He remained captain for the 2014 season. He continued to commentate for Sky Sports. He also publicly supported England's Jonathan Trott, who faced similar stress-related health issues.

Marcus started the 2014 season well. He scored 112 in a warm-up game. He then scored his first County Championship century since 2012. He passed 1,000 runs for the season in the final game of the year. In 2015, he scored over 1,000 runs again, including three centuries. He reached this milestone once more in July 2016.

After Captaincy and Retirement

In January 2016, after six seasons as captain, Marcus stepped down. He let Chris Rogers lead the team. In his first season without the captaincy, Marcus averaged over 53. He also broke the record for the most first-class catches for Somerset. He extended his contract with Somerset for the 2017 season. During this season, he broke Harold Gimblett's record for most first-class centuries for Somerset.

On 25 September 2018, Marcus took three catches in a row. This helped Craig Overton get a hat-trick in a county championship game. It was only the third time in first-class cricket that all three outs in a hat-trick were caught by the same non-wicket-keeping fielder.

On 27 June 2019, Marcus announced he would retire from professional cricket at the end of the 2019 season. His last time on the field was as a substitute fielder in Somerset's final game. He received a standing ovation and a guard of honour from the other team.

After Playing Cricket

After retiring, Marcus Trescothick became a batting coach for the England Test team. On 30 July 2024, he was appointed interim head coach of England's white-ball team. This happened after Matthew Mott stepped down from the role.

Career Records and Statistics

Test Matches

Records:

1,000 runs in a calendar year: 1,003 (2003), 1,004 (2004), 1,323 (2005)
First of two players to score a century in both innings at Edgbaston (the other being Shai Hope), 2004 v West Indies.
Kingsmead first wicket partnership record: 273 with Andrew Strauss, 2004–5 v South Africa.
The Oval third wicket partnership record: 268 with Graham Thorpe, 2003 v South Africa.

One Day Internationals