Trescothick: I can't deny I'm worried about the Tour

Trescothick, who flew home from his second trip in succession shortly after the squad arrived in Australia in November 2006, spent last year rebuilding his life, and his career with Somerset, with the help of close friends and advisers.

The left-hander, 32, flies with the county to Dubai next month to take part in the ARCH Trophy alongside Lancashire, Sussex, Yorkshire, Essex and a team from the United Arab Emirates, for which he will be away for almost two weeks.

And Trescothick, who last played for England in a one-day international against Pakistan in September 2006, admits: "I won't deny I am a little nervous about the prospect.

"I don't want to pre-empt anything, but I know the beast a bit better than I did when I had my troubles in Australia and India. I know the signs and how to work through them.

"I'm feeling well and things are pretty good, so I'm 95 per cent certain that the trip will be all right for me, but it's a big step and I'm not taking anything for granted."

Trescothick has the full backing of his friend and Ashes-winning captain Michael Vaughan as he takes the next tentative steps to recovery.

The England hierarchy will monitor Trescothick's progress closely, but Vaughan said: "No one is putting any pressure on Marcus. Having spoken to him on the phone a few times it's good to hear him happy again. Only he will know when the time is right to commit himself again, but I told him he should not feel he has to come back and play if he feels it is going to set him back. Life's more important than cricket."

Trescothick has been watching with concern the plight of Australian paceman Shaun Tait, who recently quit all cricket indefinitely, citing physical and emotional exhaustion, and New Zealand's Lou Vincent, who last week revealed he was battling depression and might never return to top-flight cricket.

Trescothick, who last week signed a deal to publish the story of his life and traumatic times, fears that for both the worst may be yet to come.

"I really feel for Shaun and Lou," said Trescothick. "But the fact is that, while these two Test players have come out and spoken about their problems, it's only a matter of time before more people emerge.

"I'm sure there are others in cricket who have similar issues and illnesses who either don't know what is happening to them or have been diagnosed but don't want to talk. I don't know whether Shaun and Lou's problems are similar to mine, but if appropriate, I'd be more than happy to offer whatever help I can based on my own experiences.

"I think it's down to the demands placed on modern cricketers and the more accepted it becomes, the more people will feel able to talk about it."