Coming back to me?
Manoj Madhavan -
Tuesday, August 26, 2008 6:22 PM
From 2000-06 Marcus Trescothick played 76 tests for England.
He, conveniently, stepped out of the 2006-07 Ashes series in Australia by citing excuses ranging from stress to overwork.
The fact, though, was something entirely different.
Trescothick, I firmly believe, and many cricket enthusiasts agree with, was scared to play Ashes in Australia. Especially, when he knew the Aussies were vying for the English blood to revenge their 2005 Ashes defeat.
After two years of England’s rout at the hands of Aussies, Trescothick has come out with his autobiography “Coming Back To Me”.
Trescothick has surely ensured a warm welcome for his book by “revealing” that he used Murray Mint to shine the ball in the 2005 Ashes series. The mint-laced saliva, when applied to the ball, preserved its shine for long, giving it a sharper swing.
The controversy kicked off by Trescothick’s revelation may help its sales.
But it will do no good to his former team mates, most of whom are still in Test cricket.
No one knows whether ball tampering had the consent of Trescothick’s skipper, or it was a solo act, or whether of Trescothick’s team mates has any knowledge of the cheating.
2005 Ashes was a series England is, and will always be, proud of. This is why it had acquired the title of Flintoff’s Ashes, just like the famous Botham’s Ashes of 1981.
Has he taken the sheen off Flintoff's Ashes?