Basic HTML Version
Summer 2005. The Ashes series that went
down in history as one of the most exciting
in living memory for both fans and players
alike. Marcus Trescothick, whose England
appearances number 199, is no exception.
Australia flexed their muscles at Lord’s,
taking the first Test with apparent ease.
England struck back at Edgbaston, winning
by the narrowest of margins before a draw
at Old Trafford. The stage was set at Trent
Bridge, at the heart of England’s campaign
to finally take the lead in the series and go
one match closer to bringing back the Ashes
to the Northern hemisphere.
The first innings of the match was crucial
for England’s hopes of a victory but
provides a sore memory for Trescothick,
falling to Shaun Tait’s first Test wicket on a
rain-affected opening day.
“That first innings was really good, we got
off to a quick start which went along
with the rest of the series, we always
started well and then we let it slip a
bit,” he said.
“I remember there being
growing partnerships
from the batsmen
but we would just
let them off the
hook too easily.”
The rain caused
problems
for
both
sides,
offering their
r e s p e c t i v e
attacks a little
more swing
and zip off a
pitch that has become renowned for being a
bowler’s haven.
“I don’t know whether it played into one
team’s hands or the other,” saidTrescothick.
“With rain, it’s always hard to judge on
which way it goes. You have to deal with
these situations when they arise, whether
it’s rain coming around, bad light or any
number of other factors.
“We still managed to get ourselves in the
position to win the game as a result of that
first innings and we bowled them out fairly
cheaply to be honest, maybe the rain helped
with that.”
As well as the breaks due to rain, both sides
had to contend with stoppages for bad light.
This, when combined with an unexpectedly
high number of extras conceded by the
Australian bowlers, raised the question over
whether England were fated to win that
fourthTest.
“Luck is really hard to judge, especially to
say it was destined for us to win. I think
that we played very well; the whole series
went very well for us bar the first Test,”
said Trescothick.
“In each Test there are these little moments
that you can look back on and say that luck
was with us.”
The now infamous run out of Ricky Ponting
has gone down in cricketing folklore and is
explored in detail elsewhere in Covered.
After Ashley Giles scored the winning runs,
ending a chase of 129 that had wobbled
after being reduced to 57-4, England took
10
Marcus Trescothick
trescothick Remembers 2005
the perfect blend
Trescothick’s lengthy career at
international and domestic level has
seen him play at Trent Bridge many
times, and to him, the ground provides
the perfect blend of tradition and
forward-thinking design.
“There’s always a nice atmosphere when
you come toTrent Bridge,” he said.
“There’s a good blend of tradition
and the new, modern side of the
game, especially with the Pavilion and
buildings that they have around it,
but there are all those little things that
make the ground that little bit special.
“The little touches as you walk into the
changing rooms, little things that make
it stand out, and then there’s the pitch.
“It’s always been a good ground for
us as an England team.The support
was always fantastic which is nice,
although it’s never as easy playing
there with Somerset rather than
England, as you’d expect.”