Somerset Ready To Gamble On Trescothick

Trescothick broke a bone in his left hand attempting to stop a full-blooded cover drive from Graeme Hick on July 17.

He has not played since but his recovery has gone better than expected to the extent that he will undergo a fitness test at Lord's on Saturday morning.

"We'd have no qualms about playing him," said coach Kevin Shine.

"Marcus is a quality player and I've been taking care of his net sessions over the last week and I see a guy who really doesn't look like he's been out for six weeks.

"It's going to be different on the day, he's going to be pumped up and the Yorkshire bowlers are going to be pumped up at him, but I think it's a risk you cannot afford to take to leave Marcus Trescothick out of your side.

"Even if he has been out for six weeks, he's a world class performer and he is also the type of player that responds to the big stage."

Trescothick travelled with Somerset to Blackpool this week for Somerset's championship match with Lancashire so he could play in the nets every day in an attempt to prove his fitness.

"Marcus has had plenty of nets," said Shine.

"We brought him up to Blackpool to net him and prepare him and we'll make a final decision on Saturday morning - at the moment it's reasonably bright for him, but you never can tell."

Trescothick is equally keen to play, stressing: "This game is the highlight of the domestic season, we've done well to get there and I am desperate to be involved.

"It's a big game to make a comeback in, but I have no qualms about that.

"The only time I have a problem is if I hit the ball in the wrong place or mis-time it but the jarring is not that bad."