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Marcus Trescothick believes Alastair Cook can go on and break a host of batting records after his monumental unbeaten 235 against Australia

Andrew McGlashan30-Nov-2010Marcus Trescothick believes Alastair Cook can go on and break a host of batting records after his monumental unbeaten 235, against Australia in Brisbane, which enabled England to save the opening Ashes Test. Cook beat Don Bradman’s Gabba record for an individual score as he and Jonathan Trott added a mammoth 329 for the second wicket.In many ways Cook has been the long-term successor to Trescothick at the top of England’s order. Although he made his debut as an opener before Trescothick’s enforced retirement from the international scene, Cook only took that position permanently during the 2006-07 series in Australia.”You can just see from the way he approaches his cricket that it was only ever going to be a matter of time before produced this sort of performance,” Trescothick told ESPNcricinfo. “He’s a young and could go on and break all sorts of records in the years to come.”The early end to Trescothick’s Test career is often cited as one of the key reasons for England’s whitewash on that trip as the top order struggled to impose themselves against a formidable attack. Cook, despite a second-innings hundred at Perth, ended with a disappointing 276 runs at 27.60.In one Test he has surpassed that tally, after beginning with a battling 67 in the first innings, and Trescothick never had any doubt in Cook’s ability even when he was going through his summer slump against Pakistan. Turning 26 on Christmas Day – the same birthday as Trescothick – Cook appears set to finish his career as England’s leading Test scorer, a position currently held by his mentor Graham Gooch.”It shows the quality of the player. We know the sort of character he is and he’s an important member of the team,” Trescothick said. “He’s always worked hard. All he needed was to get that big score and he’s been building up to it during the warm-up matches, then got fifty in the first innings at the Gabba before finishing off with a brilliant double hundred.”Cook’s opening stand of 188 with Andrew Strauss set England on their way to saving the opening Test and it was the positive approach they took, led by Strauss, that indicated the visitors weren’t going to back down from a huge challenge. As a fellow opener, Trescothick understands the mindset needed to overcome huge deficits and believes it’s the strong back-room set-up within the squad that enable the openers to play the way they did.”The vital thing is how solid the team is,” Trescothick said. “If you have that grounding in the dressing room then you can go out and try to be positive. You can’t die a death and end up not scoring runs because you have to get ahead of the other team. When the bad balls come you have to put them away and attack certain bowlers. Eventually you are going to lose wickets, but that’s what didn’t happen this time.”The build-up to the opening Test centred on Australia’s strong record at the Gabba and, although they remain unbeaten since 1988, the nature of England’s great escape means they head into the second Test buoyed while it’s the hosts under pressure. In 2002-03, Trescothick was part of an England team hammered by 384 runs in Brisbane and, despite the best efforts of Michael Vaughan who scored 633 runs in the series, they never recovered and lost 4-1. Now, having departed Queensland unscathed, Trescothick believes England have secured a vital advantage.”It was a great achievement. Our history at the Gabba wasn’t very good,” he said. “Generally if you get 500 you are losing at least half the side so to get it for just one down was a fantastic effort. It was a great achievement, and to bounce back as well from being 200 behind is a great effort.”The pitch was certainly different to before but the team is in such better shape. We know the team we want to play, the batters are getting runs and the bowlers doing OK. But I think we can produce even better results and going into the second Test we often get better as a series goes on.”Marcus Trescothick was speaking at his new signing with Mongoose Cricket www.mongoosecricket.com

Simon Katich remains in doubt for the Hobart Test against Pakistan with an elbow injury, forcing the selectors to again name Phillip Hughes as a backup opener

Cricinfo staff07-Jan-2010Simon Katich remains in doubt for the Hobart Test against Pakistan with an elbow injury, forcing the selectors to again name Phillip Hughes as a backup opener. Australia named an unchanged 13-man squad for the final Test of the home summer, giving Marcus North a reprieve despite a string of low scores.The remarkable series-winning victory at the SCG discouraged the selectors from making any alterations, allowing North another opportunity to turn around his form after scores of 1, 8, 10 and 2 in his past two Tests. The main query surrounds Katich, who missed the Sydney Test due to his elbow problem.Hughes did not fully grab his chance back in the Test side, with a first-innings duck and 37 in the second innings. The likelihood of Hughes playing at Bellerive, where the Test starts next Thursday, depends on how Katich performs when he bats in the nets in Hobart early next week.”Simon has been having regular treatment on his arm injury since being ruled out of the Sydney Test and will travel to Hobart with the squad where he will continue his rehabilitation,” Australia’s physio Alex Kountouris said. “A decision on his availability will be made closer to the start of the Test in Hobart after he’s had an opportunity to bat in the nets to test his injury.”Katich was Australia’s leading Test run scorer in 2009, with 1111 runs at 48.30, and he is averaging 57.42 in Tests this home summer. One of the SCG heroes, Peter Siddle, was confident Katich could shake the injury in time.”He’s come in a few times in the last couple of days to get some treatment and see Alex and work with him,” Siddle said. “I haven’t spoken to him too much about it but I’d be pretty confident. He’s a strong fella and he’s very wiling to work hard to get back out there. We’ve still got a fair bit of time before day one.”Squad Shane Watson, Simon Katich, Phillip Hughes, Ricky Ponting (capt), Michael Hussey, Michael Clarke, Marcus North, Brad Haddin (wk), Mitchell Johnson, Nathan Hauritz, Peter Siddle, Clint McKay, Doug Bollinger.

South Group leaders cruise to seventh win out of eight with room to spare in Cardiff

ECB Reporters Network supported by Rothesay20-Jun-2025Somerset continued their remarkable form in the Vitality Blast, cruising to a six-wicket win against Glamorgan.After restricting Glamorgan to 130 for 9 courtesy of 4 for 21 from Australian overseas Riley Meredith, Somerset knocked off a sub-par total to remain top of the South Group and head into the mid-competition break with seven wins from eight while Glamorgan’s symmetrical win-loss record makes them likely to drop outside the all-important top four.Top-order contributions throughout the Somerset innings set up the run chase for the middle-order to wrap up risk-free. Dan Douthwaite caused trouble in taking 3 for 32 but it only gave the hosts a glimmer of hope.Somerset won the toss and opted to bowl after scoring in excess of 200 three times in their last four games. Kiran Carlson and Will Smale got off to an explosive start, bringing memories of their record-breaking win over Somerset in Cardiff last year, the captain scoring 135 on that occasion while Smale had a half-century of his own.On this occasion the flair was short-lived. Smale took Josh Davey’s first three balls for boundaries, which included a typical Smale ramp. However, 30 for no loss from 2.1 overs became 42 for 4 from seven with both openers outclassed by Matt Henry.Ben Kellaway fell for a duck after a T20 best last time out, slapping to Will Smeed at point, the extra pace of Meredith proving too much. Veterans Colin Ingram and Chris Cooke continued to struggle, undone by the ever-consistent Lewis Gregory, both falling attempting to glide to deep third; Ingram chopping on, Cooke only finding the wicketkeeper.In a familiar story, it fell to Asa Tribe and Douthwaite to drag Glamorgan back into a battle from 49 for 5. Tribe found a way to combine upping the rate with added stability, contributing 38 in a 49-run partnership before being bowled while attempting a ramp.Douthwaite then picked out the deep-midwicket fielder on the first ball of Merideth’s return.A couple of late boundaries from Imad Wasim and a top-edged six from Timm van der Gugten managed to avert total embarrassment for the hosts but at 130, they were still very much under-par.Somerset’s pursuit began briskly. Tom Banton and Will Smeed were watchful in the opening two overs before being proactive and typically brutal taking 41 from the next three. Smeed, the Blast’s second-highest run-scorer, hit a pick-up six over the leg side that was particularly eye-catching.While the chase wasn’t faultless, the visitors found their way with comfort – even though the entire top order made starts without kicking on. Smeed fel in the powerplay, Banton just after the restrictions were relaxed. Tom Abell was bogged down temporarily, scoring at just a-run-a-ball for his 10 before Douthwaite dismissed him in an impressive over conceding just one run.Somerset looked to get the job done quickly, Tom Kohler-Cadmore hitting five boundaries in 38 from 29 before being caught on the cover boundary, a third wicket for Douthwaite.Despite trickier spells from Douthwaite and former Somerset seamer Ned Leonard, who returned economical figures, the visitors knocked off victory in 16.4 overs.

It is however not yet officially confirmed that Naseem will be fully fit for the start of the PSL

Danyal Rasool02-Dec-2023Naseem Shah has moved from Quetta Gladiators to Islamabad United in one of the most sensational trades of the PSL, ending weeks of speculation about his destination next season.After a tussle in which at least three teams competed for his signing, United won out, ending the battle for one of the most in-demand fast bowlers in Pakistan cricket. In return, Abrar Ahmed and Mohammad Wasim Jnr have moved from United to Gladiators before the transfer window shuts.Just days ago, Multan Sultans appeared to have beaten United to Naseem’s signature, and ESPNcricinfo understands they were on the cusp of making an official statement announcing the move. However, United’s interest in Naseem predated Sultans’, and ended up outlasting it.It’s understood Naseem’s move away from the Gladiators was partially influenced by the player pushing for the move himself after several frustrating years at the franchise. While the Gladiators were the most consistent team of the PSL over the first four years of its existence, reaching three finals and winning the title in 2019, it’s been a dramatic reversal since. They are the only side to have missed out on the playoffs each of the last four years, finishing fifth twice, and propping up the table in the other two seasons. It has meant Naseem, who has only ever played for the Gladiators and made his debut in 2020, has never reached the playoff stages of the PSL in his career.While Naseem is now recognised as a generational talent across formats in Pakistan, the PSL is yet to truly see evidence of that ability. His 29 matches have produced 26 wickets – nine of them in two individual games in 2022 – and his economy rate, strike rate, and average are all worse at the PSL than his T20 career in general.It is not yet officially confirmed that Naseem will be fully fit for the start of the PSL after a shoulder injury that ruled him out of the final part of the Asia Cup and all of the World Cup. He will also miss Pakistan’s tour of Australia and New Zealand, and is currently in the United Kingdom as he works his way back. While he is believed to be on track to ensure he is available for the PSL, this has not been officially confirmed.

Other performers included Easwaran with 132, Varma with 121 and Mukesh Kumar with 5 for 86

ESPNcricinfo staff04-Sep-2022Centuries from Abhimanyu Easwaran and Rajat Patidar and Tilak Varma alongside Mukesh Kumar’s five-wicket haul in the first innings headlined India A’s dominant show in the drawn first unofficial Test against New Zealand A in Bengaluru.After Mukesh’s 5 for 86 helped bowl New Zealand A out for 400, Patidar led the way with 176 off 256 balls and found support from Easwaran and Varma. India A declared their first innings on 571 for 6 after securing a lead of 171 on the fourth and final day. Left-arm wristspinner Kuldeep Yadav then struck twice to dismiss Chad Bowes and Mark Chapman before the umpires signalled the end of the game with the visitors on 133 for 4.New Zealand A’s first innings revolved around Joe Carter’s career-best 197 after they had opted to bat. None of the other batters could even reach fifty with Mukesh turning out to be the wrecker-in-chief. The 28-year-old Bengal fast bowler, who was representing India A for the first time, struck at regular intervals to finish with a five-wicket haul.Related

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The Indian batters then came out with positive intent with Easwaran and Priyank Panchal, the captain, adding 123 runs for the opening stand in 28.3 overs. Panchal fell just before stumps for 47 on day two to Rachin Ravindra, but Easwaran went onto notch up his 16th first-class ton on the third morning. He added 45 runs to his overnight score of 87 before falling to left-arm wristspinner Michael Rippon.It was Patidar, though, who stole the show on day three. In the midst of a golden run across formats over the last six months, the 29-year-old brought up his ninth first-class century. Coming in to bat at 157 for 2, he first added 104 runs for the third wicket with Easwaran, 64 with Sarfaraz Khan for the fourth and then shared a 186-run fifth-wicket stand with Varma to take India A into the lead.Patidar ended the third day on 170 but could only add six runs to his overnight tally falling to seamer Logan van Beek on the fourth morning. Varma, however, pressed on to bring up his maiden first-class century. He hit nine fours and six sixes during his 183-ball121 before his dismissal triggered India’s declaration. Ravindra was the pick of the bowlers for New Zealand A, taking 2 for 112 in 32 overs.New Zealand A got off to a steady start in their second innings with Bowes and Ravindra putting on 51 runs for the opening wicket. Kuldeep and Yash Dayal left the visitors wobbling before the game ended in a draw.The second unofficial Test between the two sides will take place in Hubbali from September 8.

Unbeaten 93 takes Glamorgan to the brink of stiff run-chase at Cardiff

ECB Reporters Network10-Jun-2021Gloucestershire 179 for 6 (Phillips 44, Douthwaite 3-28) beat Glamorgan 175 for 9 (Labuschagne 93*) by four runsMarnus Labuschagne’s superb unbeaten 93 off 56 balls couldn’t stop Gloucestershire from starting their Vitality Blast campaign with a four-run win over GlamorganGlenn Phillips’ 44 and 30 from Benny Howell off 15 balls saw Gloucestershire post 179 for 6 in Cardiff which always looked like being a challenging total. And despite Labuschagne’s fine innings on his Blast debut, Glamorgan fell just short against some tidy Gloucestershire bowling.Glamorgan weren’t helped by batting second and the fact there were no floodlights available at Sophia Gardens as the skies darkened.Gloucestershire won the toss and chose to bat, and Glamorgan opened with spin at both ends. Andrew Salter cleaned up Miles Hammond in his first over. Ian Cockbain then skied to Timm van der Gugten at mid-on off the bowling of Ruaidhri Smith for 16 as Gloucestershire reached 34 for 2 from their first six overs.Gloucestershire struggled in the first powerplay, but Phillips got the scoreboard moving with consecutive sixes and then a four off Salter. But just when Gloucestershire looked like they were getting going, Chris Dent was caught superbly by Kiran Carlson on the cover boundary for 20 from the bowling of Dan Douthwaite.Phillips was the mainstay of the Gloucestershire innings as they went past 100 in the 13th over. But he fell short of 50 to the part-time spin of Labuschagne when Nick Selman took a fine catch on the mid-wicket boundary.Labuschagne followed in Selman’s path with another boundary catch to dismiss Jack Taylor, but Gloucestershire finished with a flourish as Smith’s 18th over went for 16.David Lloyd’s fine form continued as he started Glamorgan’s reply with a quickfire 28 which included two sixes before he was clean bowled by Josh Shaw. Selman soon followed Lloyd back to the pavilion and when Colin Ingram was clean bowled by Shaw for just a single Glamorgan were 46 for 3 from the first powerplay.Labuschagne and Chris Cooke rebuilt the innings to take Glamorgan to 80 for 3 at the halfway stage and Cooke was dropped on the midwicket boundary in the 11th over. But he wasn’t so lucky when he was caught by Hammond from the bowling off Tom Smith for 26, leaving Glamorgan’s chase in the hands of Labuschagne.He did go to the game’s first half-century from 36 balls, but Carlson fell for 14, Douthwaite was lbw first ball and Salter was run out for a duck trying to keep Labuschagne on strike.Labuschagne gave it everything, but he needed 19 from the last over and couldn’t find the boundary enough despite a six from the last ball as Ryan Higgins held his nerve.