Today marks the end of the kind of cricket season that most England fans could barely have dreamt of 4 years ago, with England achieving their long term ambitions to reach the very pinnacle of the sports One Day format, defeating New Zealand in one of the most astonishing matches of all time.
Winning the previously highly illusive cricket World Cup should have been the champagne moment of the season. However, such was the nature of this incredible summer of sport, a few weeks later Stokes almost singlehandedly manufactured what many considered to be the most remarkable cricketing comeback of all time. Producing a backs to the wall, swashbuckling performance to rival or even surpass Beefy ’81, he put on a last wicket stand of 76 alongside the stubborn, obstinate, determined and steamy-glassed Jack Leach to keep the Ashes series alive.
It’s been an incredible journey this summer, with plenty of things to look back on with fondness. But today, many of my thoughts are with one man and one man only. A player who never really reached his full potential for England due to his much-publicised mental health problems. A batsman who had the talent to rival Cookies incredible run record, if only his career hadn’t been cut short so prematurely on the international stage. A cricketer who went on to prove himself with the performances and leadership qualities he showed week in week out for his beloved county. England’s loss was Somerset’s gain, as he showed the kind of loyalty and class most sports teams could only dream of.
Marcus “Banger” Trescothick, take a bow and enjoy your well earned retirement! Though I’m sure we’ll be seeing you around cricket in some kind of coaching capacity for county and country for many years to come. You were a highly polished diamond of a player and you shall be much missed on the cricket field, by players and fans alike!
