England's vice-captain broke his month-long silence to reveal that his exit was caused by exhaustion after six years of international cricket and a mystery virus.

British newspapers had reported that Trescothick was in tears at lunch during the tour opening match against the Indian Board President's XI at Baroda. He flew home that very day.

Though the English tour management was tightlipped about the reason for the left-hander's abrupt departure there was speculation that familial reasons were involved.

Trescothick's statement on Monday dismissed that notion.

'The main reason was I picked up a bug,' Trescothick told Sky Sports News in an interview. 'It was the second part of Bombay, when we were there at the end of that trip, and it really hit me hard. I wasn't sleeping and I couldn't shake it off really and we moved on to Baroda. It just didn't get any better.'

'I couldn't eat too much, I wasn't really drinking. I was struggling to concentrate on my cricket. So I spoke to the people that I needed to and decided that the right thing to do was to come home,' he added.

'We play so much,' the stylist batsman said, 'We spend 300 nights of the year out of our own house, either travelling the world or in hotels preparing for games in England so I think there are times when you do need to have a rest. Unfortunately, Pakistan and India are tough tours to go on, the hardest to do. It's not easy to take your families to that part of the world. You need your comforts and your security to be able to perform at a good level.'

'The virus is a funny one,' Trescothick said. 'It has stuck with me for such a long time. Up till about three weeks ago I was getting relapses if I trained too hard. I really thought I could hit the gym hard, then it seemed to knock me back for a couple of days.'