October 28 Monday 2002
'No problems in teaming up with Vaughan again'

PERTH: Big left-hander Marcus Trescothick was confident here Sunday that he and Michael Vaughan will quickly re-establish their prolific liaison at the top of the England order when Vaughan returns from injury.

"We won't find any problems getting back together," Trescothick, from Somerset, said as England prepared for a three-day match against Western Australia starting at the WACA Ground Monday. "It's not a major worry that we cannot bat together at the moment," he said.

"Once he comes back, it just won't be a problem. "We get a rapport going in terms of running between the wickets, and you talk together when you are having a partnership. You settle in and feel quite at home with someone you know." Vaughan, still recovering from right knee surgery at the end of the English season, has not played in the tourists' first two games and is also expected to miss this three-dayer.

This has left Trescothick to face the new ball with Robert Key -- a teaming likely to be used again in the new clash. Vaughan is hoping to be ready for the following game, another three-day encounter, against Queensland in Brisbane from Saturday. England will rely heavily on the Trescothick-Vaughan combination to provide them with strong starts against the powerful Australian attack.

The English pair had oustanding success on home soil lasst summer, averaging starts of 86.4 runs the seven times they padded up together in three Tests against Sri Lanka and one against India after Trescothick returned from injury. Off the Sri Lankan bowling, they hit 17, 168, 92, 66 and 50 (unbroken stand), while in the fourth Test against India they helped themselves to 98 and 114 (unbroken). Vaughan had an extraordinary summer, striking 285 runs, with one century, at an average of 71.25 against Sri Lanka, followed by 615 runs (three centuries) off India at an average of 102.50.

Trescothick cracked 354 (one century) off Sri Lanka for an average of 88.50 and 115 (for one dismissal) against India. Trescothick also has an injury problem -- he is having treatment on his right shoulder aimed at having him 100 per cent for the opening Test.

He was given a cortisone injection Friday but he was confident he would be available for selection for the match starting Monday. He said the injury restricted him in the field, but caused few problems when he was batting. "I just get a bit of pain with the odd shot when I am batting," he said. "It's not bothering me to the degree that I think I am not going to play any games. I am completely happy that I am fit for selection."