County Cricket / Editor / 09 April 2007 /

England star Marcus Trescothick fired an amazing 256 runs off 117 balls for Somerset in a pre-season friendly against Devon on Sunday.

The left-hander withdrew from England's Ashes tour and the World Cup because of a stress-related illness, but it would seem that the 31-year-old is now fit and ready for the upcoming county season.

Trescothick's chances of an England recall may depend on his early season form for Somerset and him convincing the selectors he is in the right frame of mind for the summer series' against West Indies and India.

The opener was eventually run out, but Devon coach Robert Dawson was amazed with Trescothick's form and feels an England return must be close.

Dawson told the BBC: "Along with Kevin Pietersen, he (Trescothick) is by far and away our best player.

"Ed Joyce wouldn't have got 250 against us. You can't express how much England have missed him."

In a newly formed market, Somerset can be backed at 7.2 to win the County Championship Second Division this season.

Essex (3.35) and Nottinghamshire (3.6) are set to be among the pre-season favourites to seal promotion into the top flight.

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