Trescothick lasted just two weeks of England's disastrous tour of Australia © Getty Images

Marcus Trescothick, the England and Somerset batsman, made an astonishing return today with a rollicking 256 from just 117 balls in a pre-season friendly against Devon.

Making his comeback after a winter recovering from the stress-related illness which forced him home from England's Ashes tour, Trescothick hit 19 sixes and 25 fours on his home ground at Taunton, in Somerset's vast 502 for 4 from their 50 overs.

"It was phenomenal batting. We dropped him on 70 and then he went absolutely beserk," Devon's Robert Dawson told BBC Sport. "There were very short boundaries on three sides but it was an incredible effort. Quite a few of the sixes went 100 yards although a few were lobbed over the short side.

"It was an incredible display of hitting, it really was. It's just a shame he was playing against us and not against Australia."

In addition to his stress-related illness, Trescothick underwent a double hernia operation last month in Manchester which, as his innings today demonstrated, was a success and ought not prevent him playing in the opening matches of Somerset's season.

"Along with [Kevin] Pietersen, he's by far and away our best player," Dawson added. "Ed Joyce wouldn't have got 250 against us today. You can't express how much England have missed him."