Marcus Trescothick packed a lot into his six-year international career: More than 10,000 runs, 26 hundreds… and one Test wicket.
Until recently, Trescothick held the record for the most ODI hundreds scored by an Englishman, and in Test cricket, only Graham Gooch, Len Hutton, Alastair Cook and Geoffrey Boycott have more runs at a higher average than Trescothick opening the batting for England. Trescothick captained his country 12 times, kept wicket in five internationals and occasionally turned his arm over, taking five wickets across his 202 international appearances across all formats.
What is less remembered is that Trescothick was once deployed as England’s first change bowler in one of their most famous wins this century. At Karachi in 2000, Trescothick was brought on at first change ahead of Craig White, who was enjoying the most successful period of his career. Nasser Hussain, England’s captain at the time, was instantly rewarded for his innovative thinking as Trescothick struck early in his spell.
Trescothick, who has a first-class hat-trick to his name, dismissed Pakistan opening batsman Imran Nazir for 20, reducing Pakistan to 42-2 in the 15th over – it was Trescothick’s first and last wicket in Test cricket.
The dismissal was, in the words of on-air commentator Ian Botham, “soft”, Nazir driving in the air straight to Ashley Giles at cover. “I’m not sure that will be greeted with too much enthusiasm in the Pakistani dressing room”, Botham noted drolly.
Pakistan would go on to recover from that shaky start to post a first innings total of 405. Mike Atherton’s near 10-hour stay at the crease helped England respond with 388, before Darren Gough, White and Ashley Giles combined to roll Pakistan out for 158 in their second innings. England memorably secured victory in near total darkness at the end of day five, chasing 176 in 41.3 overs as England sealed their first series win in Pakistan in 39 years. Trescothick only made 13 and 24 with the bat, but he’d already left his mark. It was Pakistan’s first Test defeat at Karachi since 1965.
Trescothick bowled in eight further Tests after the Karachi game without ever taking another wicket.
