Trescothick returns home

Marcus Trescothick will fly home from India, for personal reasons.

The news comes as yet another blow, for a side already ravaged by injuries, and in poor form as today’s loss shows. According to Fletcher, it is “too early to say” whether he will be back in time to play at Nagpur. He added that Trescothick’s privacy should be respected: “Marcus has to go back for personal reasons. I think we have to respect the privacy of the matter.”

England have recruited Alistair Cook and James Anderson from the ‘A’ tour, and if things do not improve, more reinforcements could be brought in. Vaughan, Collingwood and Simon Jones were all forced to miss the practice match. During the match itself Pietersen was forced to retire with back spasms and Liam Plunkett’s bruised heel prevented him from bowling.

Should Trescothick and Vaughan be absent at Nagpur, Alistair Cook may well find himself opening the batting, while England will have to find a new captain, probably Strauss or Flintoff.