Trescothick "enjoying life now"

This time a year ago, cricketer Marcus Trescothick was back in Taunton after Twenty20 finals weekend knowing that within a few weeks he would have to make an agonisingly difficult decision about whether he could represent his county, Somerset, on one of the biggest occasions in their history.

In finishing runners-up to Sussex, Somerset had qualified to play later in the autumn in the Champions League, the new multi-national Twenty20 tournament to be played in India, with a staggering $2.5 million on offer to the winners.

Trescothick faced a dilemma because while he was a key player for Somerset he had twice been forced to return home from England tours because of a depression-type illness manifesting itself in anxiety attacks.  Subsequently, he was been unable to board a plane for a pre-season tour with his county for the same reason.

Last year he took the brave decision to travel to the Champions League tournament but again was forced to return home early and announced soon afterwards that he would not attempt to play cricket abroad again.

This time, the impasse between the England and Wales Cricket Board and the Champions League organisers over the tournament dates has meant that as things stand no English team will take part in the 2010 tournament.  Trescothick therefore is spared the need to formally rule himself out of travelling.

Happily, his health is bearing up well currently, even under the additional pressures he has taken on in his first year as Somerset’s captain.

“I’m more tired after a day’s play than when my responsibility was just to go out and score runs,” he said last week.  “But I’m really enjoying the things that are making me tired.

“Whereas you had times in a game as a batsman when you could relax a little, as captain you have to be switched on for the whole game.

“You feel it at the end of a day but I enjoy the responsibility, I like having to make choices and take decisions during a game and it is always a good feeling when a decision you have made brings a reward.”

Trescothick acknowledges that his illness has the potential to flare up again but accepts the sacrifice he made in deciding he would not attempt again to travel abroad to play.

“It would have been nice to carry on my career in international cricket but having understood what was going on it was not worth the price I had to pay,” he said.

“I’ve got my head around it a lot more now and I’m enjoying my cricket and my life.”

Trescothick’s book Coming Back to Me was notable for describing his illness and recovery in intimate and sometimes harrowing detail.  Many mental heath charities now suggest it as recommended reading.

Follow the link to buy Coming Back To Me: The Autobiography of Marcus Trescothick.

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