LONDON, Oct 19: England opener Marcus Trescothick said on Thursday that 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 Champions Trophy 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.

According to reports, the constant treadmill of playing, training and being away from home non-stop took its toll on the opener.

But Trescothick praised the support he 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," he said. —Agencies