England coach warned his players against picking and choosing their tours after opening batsman Marcus Trescothick withdrew on Wednesday.
SOUTHAMPTON: England coach Duncan Fletcher warned his players against picking and choosing their tours after opening batsman Marcus Trescothick withdrew on Wednesday from the squad for next month's ICC Champions Trophy one-day tournament in India.
The 30-year-old left-hander, England's leading century-maker in one-day internationals with 12 hundreds, pulled out on the advice of specialists who said he'd been suffering from the ongoing symptoms of a stress-related illness dating back to his early exit from England's tour of India in March.
However, in a statement today, Trescothick - who has played in all of England's matches since coming back from India - said he was "well on course" to make a full recovery and feature in the team's Ashes defence in Australia starting in November.
But Fletcher, due to meet with fellow selectors David Graveney (chairman) and Geoff Miller later today, insisted: "I've said all along we've just got to come up with a method of making sure players don't pick (and chose) these tours. I would want my players available for all tours that are played."
Trescothick's exit is just the latest blow to an England side that, this home season in particular, has seen its one-day form slump in the absence of injured players such as Ashes-winning captain Michael Vaughan, Andrew Flintoff, Simon Jones, Ashley Giles and Stephen Harmison.
Veteran quick Darren Gough, recalled to the squad, then dropped out last weekend with a shin injury.
England were due to name their Champions Trophy squad on Thursday but have been granted an extension until after the end of the Pakistan series, which finishes on Sunday, because of their injury problems.
This home season they have lost all seven of their completed one-day internationals, a worrying record heading into next year's World Cup in the West Indies.
But former Zimbabwe captain Fletcher also told reporters at the squad's hotel here today that England, who've won just four out of their last 24 limited overs matches, were a good one-day side when at full strength.
"When we had our full side, close to our Test side, we got to the Champions Trophy final (against West Indies at The Oval in 2004) and we competed very well with (world champions) Australia.
"Since then we haven't had that side. Continuity is important but you can't have continuity if people keep coming in the side because of injuries."
England went 2-0 down in their five-match series against Pakistan with a two-wicket defeat under the Rose Bowl floodlights here yesterday, where Trescothick was bowled by Shoaib Akhtar off the first ball of the match.
And Fletcher admitted the Somerset star could not be certain of his place for the concluding matches against Pakistan on Friday and Sunday in Nottingham and Birmingham respectively.
"We'll just have to see what we do with the side over the next two games."
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