cook's chance to shine at opener

Cook - could be pushed up to opener.

By Nick Miller

In my role as official Sporting Life optimist (self appointed), it falls to me to find an up side to Marcus Trescothick's withdrawal from the Ashes squad.

And actually, I don't really have to look all that far.

Of the England top order, Trescothick is undoubtedly the man with least form.

His aggregate of just 10 runs in the warm up matches down under can be ignored, but his last innings of any real substance was his 106 against Sri Lanka at Lords, while every other England batsman made pretty spectacular hay over the summer.

Strauss, Bell and Collingwood look in the best touch of their England careers, Pietersen thrives on the battle with the Aussies, while Cook looks more assured than most batsmen with twice his experience.

In truth, Trescothick would have been going into the Ashes based on his past ability and service to the team, rather than current form, which would have been a big risk.

The selection poser that Duncan Fletcher faced before Trescothick's withdrawal was who to drop from Cook, Bell and Collingwood. Whichever decision he made would have been spectacularly unfair to one of them given their form.

Also, Trescothick's confidence against the Australians would have been shakey at best. McGrath and co had already targeted his unorthodox lack of footwork in the past couple of Ashes series, to a good degree of success, and had the opener gone into the series with problems hanging over his head, then the Aussie quicks could - nay would - have exploited them ruthlessly.

And in any case, it is far better for Trescothick to withdraw now than break down at the SCG.

In addition, 'Banger's' withdrawal may even provide more balance to the England top six. Someone will be called up from the Academy squad (I'd go for Owais Shah), but almost certainly Alastair Cook will be pushed up to his natural position as opener, which may shield him from facing Shane Warne first up - a big concern after his problems against Danish Kaneria in the summer.

Ian Bell - a man in top form and with an Ashes point to prove - will play at three, with the flamboyance and power of Pietersen and Flintoff sandwiching the steadying influence of Collingwood in the middle order.

After all this though, Trescothick will be missed. He has been the great unsung hero in England's rise from worst in the world in 1999 to Ashes winners. His technically incorrect style was perversely a joy to watch, and above all else he scored runs. Heaps of them.

Thanks for the memories Marcus.