MULTAN, Nov 11: Marcus Trescothick said he asked his wife before accepting the England captaincy for the first Test against Pakistan in Multan on Saturday. The opener was named for the job after Michael Vaughan, who took England to their first Ashes triumph against Australia for 18 years, was ruled out with a recurrence of an old knee injury.

“I talked to my wife about it, asking if she thought it was the right thing to do. But I’m unofficial second in command and I believe it was the right thing to step up,” he was quoted as saying by the BBC website.

Asked at a news conference Friday if he asked his wife Hayley’s advice, he replied: “A little bit. I bounced a couple of things off her to make sure I wasn’t taking on something I couldn’t handle.”

“I was pretty prepared, I was going to take on the job anyway, but wanted to take some advice from her anyway,” the 29-year-old added.

Trescothick led England in the Lord’s Test against New Zealand when Vaughan injured the same knee last year, and on that occasion the team won.

“I have fond memories of that Lord’s Test and I am ready to take the responsibility again. It’s an honour to lead your country,” he said after being named stand-in captain late Thursday.

England said he would remain captain in case Vaughan misses any further matches, and Trescothick said he hoped the team would adapt quickly to the loss of their regular skipper.

“We can take strength that we have played some outstanding cricket over the past 18 months, and we are all up for the challenge on Saturday,” he said.

“We have enjoyed every minute of the tour so far — when you are in this part of the world you have to adapt very quickly,” said Trescothick, who has also led England in five one-day internationals, winning three of them.

England have called up Alastair Cook, a 20-year-old left-hander from Essex who hit a double hundred against Australia three months ago, as cover for Vaughan.

But out-of-form Ian Bell may step into the number three spot left vacant by Vaughan, who will stay with the team and continue to receive treatment.

Pakistan captain Inzamamul Haq and coach Bob Woolmer said they hoped their side would gain from the absence of Vaughan, who has led England to six consecutive series wins including the Ashes two months ago.

“Vaughan has been instrumental in leading England to the world number two spot and his absence will give us some advantage,” said Inzamam.—AFP