Trescothick - England's new knight in shining armour

By Ted Corbett

LONDON, JULY 8. Even though England found a new star in its first match of the triangular series, against Zimbabwe at the Oval, it ran into trouble when Paul Strang's leg breaks ripped out three batsmen in 13 balls to cut back its total to 207. Welcome to team England Marcus Trescothick; you will find most England games contain a dismal failure or three.

Controversy began 24 hours before the match when, in the absence of David Graveney, chairman of selectors, Nasser Hussain, the injured captain, his stand-in Alec Stewart and Duncan Fletcher, the coach put together a side that left out Craig White and Vikram Solanki, chosen in the original 14 and included Trescothick and Matthew Maynard, who were called up when Hussain and Nick Knight were hurt. The full consequences of this decision have not yet emerged.

Stewart chose to bat and from the first ball, received by the newcomer Trescothick, who has played all his cricket in the obscurity of either Somerset's county team or England `A,' it was clear that he is a player of considerable presence. He is 24, known to the dressing room as Banger - and born on Christmas Day - 6ft 3in and a full 14st 7lb but he could have been forgiven for surprise at receiving a lifting ball immediately. Instead he knocked it for two as if international cricket were his natural abode and from that moment grew more at home every minute. Whoever insisted on his inclusion deserves a rich reward.

He went to fifty in 72 balls and off the next ball should have been run out. Umpire David Shepherd was too busy indulging in his favourite superstition of hopping up and down - with the score on the allegedly unlucky 111 - to pay full attention. He did not call for the replay when Gary Brent threw the ball from point and Andy Flower took off the bails. Just in time according to TV replays but, luckily for Trescothick, Shepherd did not ask for help from the third umpire.

Trescothick had also been fortunate at 48 that a wild throw prevented another run-out when he slipped - he is no more mobile than a lorry in a lay-by - in mid pitch.

When Trescothick was caught on the square leg boundary going for yet another powerful hit he had struck seven 4s in 102 balls and the crowd rose to greet his departure, followed all the way up the many steps to the dressing room by the television cameras. He may have had a couple of lucky moments in his 79 but England needs a little good fortune and its selectors must persevere with him even when Hussain and Knight are fit.

After Stewart had gone lbw at 30, Trescothick and Graeme Hick put on 106 for the second wicket in which Hick played at his best even though he was mostly supporting a batsman who had every shot from the lusty hoick to the delicate late cut. At 150 for two in the 32nd over England seemed set for a score above 250 but after Hick was caught at cover for 50 as he hit to leg, Maynard was bowled by a yorker length leg-break to give Strang his 13-ball spell of three for five.

Andrew Flintoff, flailing the ball into the deep, Graham Thorpe, carelessly caught and bowled, Robert Croft, hitting, Andrew Caddick bowled attempting to force the pace and Alan Mullally smashing the last ball all perished unnecessarily. Mark Ealham made a brisk 32; the rest simply surrendered as Zimbabwe proved for the second time in three days that you underestimate its one- day prowess at your peril.

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