Coming Back To Me:
The Autobiography of Marcus Trescothick

Marcus Trescothick with Peter Hayter

Average Rating 8/10 (1 Review)

A true-life sporting memoir of one of the best batsman in the game who stunned the cricket world when he prematurely ended his own England career. Trescothick's brave and soul-baring account of his mental frailties opens the way to a better understanding of the unique pressures experienced by modern-day professional sportsmen.

At 29, Marcus Trescothick was widely regarded as one of the batting greats. With more than 5,000 Test runs to his name and a 2005 Ashes hero, some were predicting this gentle West Country cricket nut might even surpass Graham Gooch's record to become England's highest ever Test run scorer. But the next time Trescothick hit the headlines it was for reasons no one but a handful of close friends and colleagues could have foreseen.

On Saturday 25 February 2006, four days before leading England into the first Test against India in place of the injured captain Vaughan, Trescothick was out for 32 in the second innings of the final warm-up match. As he walked from the field he fought to calm the emotional storm that was raging inside him, at least to hide it from prying eyes. In the dressing room he broke down in tears, overwhelmed by a blur of anguish, uncertainty and sadness he had been keeping at bay for longer than he knew.

Within hours England's best batsman was on the next flight home. His departure was kept secret until after close of play when coach Duncan Fletcher told the stunned media his acting captain had quit the tour for 'personal, family reasons.'

Until now, the full, extraordinary story of what happened that day and why, of what preceded his breakdown has never been told. He reveals for the first time that he almost flew home from the 2004 tour to South Africa - of what caused it and of what followed - his comeback to the England side and a second crushing breakdown nine months later that left him unable to continue the 2006-07 Ashes tour down under.

Coming Back to Me replaces the myths and rumours with the truth as Trescothick talks with engaging openness and enthusiasm about his rise to the top of international cricket; and describes with equal frankness his tortured descent into private despair.

Review by Charlotte Hodges (300612) Rating (8/10)

Review by Charlotte Hodges
Rating 8/10
It is estimated that one in ten sportsmen has suffered with some form of depression. Yet many who struggle with the condition do not speak of it, too scared to show weakness in such a competitive industry. Coming Back to Me is the autobiography of Marcus Trescothick and details his rise to the top of his game and the crippling illness which resulted in the demise of his international cricket career.

Winner of the William Hill Sports Book of the Year 2008 proved itself to be one of the best autobiographies in recent years, addressing the taboo subject of depression in sport. This year's winner, A Life Too Short: The Tragedy of Robert Enke by journalist Ronald Reng also explored the issue of depression in sport and encapsulated how the illness can suffocate a person and in turn end careers, in Enkes' case his life.

Trescothick's personal and soul-baring account of his psychological illness helps us to gain a better understanding of the unique pressures experienced by professional sportsmen. The book starts at 'The End', a dark period in his cricket prime, where he finally succumbs to the misunderstood illness and makes the difficult decision to abandon his international career. Ending with a statement of understanding and contentment after accepting that choosing his family over sport was the best thing to do.

With the help of ghost writer Peter Hayter, who has endured a similar torment, helped captivate the audience and understand his battle with the 'black wings' of depression. The excellent writing of this book helps to explain his openness and enthusiasm regarding his all time highs at the top playing for England, and describes with equal frankness his extreme lows after collapsing at Heathrow airport unable to face a pre-season tour away.

This book helps the reader to understand an issue which affects so many people in and outside of the sporting world. Marcus Trescothick, Peter Hayter and Robert Reng should be commended for the acknowledgement of such a serious issue affecting so many.
Charlotte Hodges (30th June 2012)