"He was mingling with the other members of the squad just like everybody else and his family was due to fly out to join him later in the series.

"This will obviously affect England but how big the impact will be we shall have to wait and see. The morale will be dented but it is better that this should happen now rather than when the Ashes series has started.

"Without a doubt, this is a loss to the team but it is not a huge loss. If Trescothick had been at his best then this would be a huge loss. He hasn't been at his best for the past year, though, and the last six months have been very traumatic for him.

"The side will suffer in terms of experience. Trescothick has a tour of Australia behind him already and that is invaluable.

"What England do have is a ready-made replacement in Alastair Cook. He is a fine opener and will become a very fine player. If Paul Collingwood was the spare batsman then I believe he will come in.

"My guess is that Robert Key or Owais Shah will be called up to the squad as the reserve batsman and it will probably be Key.

"From a personal perspective, it's hard to imagine Trescothick coming back again for England.

"It appears that his problems arise when abroad and the selectors are unlikely to pick a player who does not wish to travel at all.

"Whether he'll carry on at county level with Somerset is another matter but I think that is the last we will see of him for England."