England are set to welcome former opening batsman Marcus Trescothick into their coaching set-up ahead of next month’s Ashes series, according to a report from ESPNcricinfo. 

Trescothick is set to retire from first-class cricket at the end of the ongoing County Championship, after 27 seasons with Somerset. He will be with the team for the first two Tests, at Edgbaston and at Lord’s.

Jonathan Trott was roped in for a similar role ahead of the four-day Test against Ireland at Lord’s. According to ESPNcricinfo, the appointments have been made to ease the load on Graham Thorpe, the ECB’s chief batting coach. However, neither Trott nor Trescothick is understood to be guaranteed an offer for a full-time role.

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Trescothick brings vast experience to the table. The left-hander was part of England’s Ashes-winning side in 2005 and has over 26,000 first-class runs to his name, alongside 66 centuries.