The news England fans have been waiting for arrived today following Marcus Trescothick's claims he is fully fit and raring to go to Australia for England's defence of the Ashes. The opening batsman was unavailable for the current ICC Champions Trophy in India as he recovered from a "stress related illness".

But he told the Daily Mirror: "The buzz is back, the energy is back, I'm fit and raring to go."

Trescothick will fly out to Australia early next month to meet up with the rest of the England squad.

The 30-year-old was adamant he had fully recovered from the condition which first saw him return home from the tour of India last winter. And he praised the support he has received from England and the Professional Cricketers' Association.

"I want to get back on the plane now, I want to get going and feel the bat in my hands again," said Trescothick.

"I've been through the mill, and not even my own team-mates knew what was going on. I only told one or two - and even they didn't know the full extent of what was happening.

"The constant treadmill of playing, training and being away from home non-stop took its toll.

"But the possibility of being on the road for six months doesn't worry me - doing well in the Ashes and the World Cup would be perfect therapy."

Trescothick still has not traced the source of his illness but believes an accident that left his father-in-law critically ill, which occurred while the batsman was on tour in Pakistan, may have played a part.

England begin their defence of the Ashes on 23 November in Brisbane. BBC Direct Link