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An already injury affected English team got another blow under the belt when it was announced that Marcus Trescothick would be flying home for ‘personal’ reasons. This news, compounded by England’s eight-wicket loss to the Indian Board President’s XI in Vadodara, will further increase the gloom of an injury-hit side.

“Marcus has to go back for personal reasons,” Duncan Fletcher, England’s coach, told reporters. “It’s a blow, yes, but it will force the others to step up. We will be monitoring the situation closely, so all we can ask is that you respect his decision.” He added it was “too early to say” if Trescothick would be back in time for the first Test starting at Nagpur on Wednesday.

Michael Vaughan (knee), Paul Collingwood (back) and Simon Jones (virus) were ruled out of the Vadodara match. Kevin Pietersen joined the casualty list after retiring hurt with back spasms, and Liam Plunkett was also unable to bowl on the second day after picking up a bruised heel. Earlier today it was confirmed that Alastair Cook and James Anderson, on England A duty in the West Indies, were flying in to India as cover.

With Trescothick gone, and Vaughan’s condition still uncertain, England may actually end up with a new captain for Nagpur. The likeliest candidates would appear to be Andrew Strauss and Andrew Flintoff, neither of whom has been on top form with the bat so far on this trip. England are creaking at the seams with less than a week to go until the series begins.

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