Trescothick adds to England's injury woes

PERTH, Oct 25 AAP - Clear the hospital beds in Brisbane - the England cricket team is arriving next week.

The injury-ravaged tourists suffered another blow today with opener Marcus Trescothick taking a painkiller for a niggling shoulder injury.

The 26-year-old spent most of today off the field as the tourists' two-day match against Western Australia petered out to a draw at the WACA ground.

In reply to England's 221, WA finished on 6-313 with the son of former Australian player and coach Geoff Marsh, Shaun, topscoring with 92 as England's bowlers continued to look pedestrian.

Trescothick, who carried the injury into the tour, was given a painkilling injection today but England captain Nasser Hussain played down the seriousness of the injury.

"Marcus has had a jab in it, it hasn't really affected his batting that much, although he did a little bit yesterday and that is why he had it jabbed," Hussain said.

"Bowling and fielding have been a problem."

The big left-hander is a key player for England's hopes of being competitive against Australia this summer.

His partnership at the top of the order with fellow casualty Michael Vaughan (knee) is crucial for the tourists to register decent totals in the Ashes series starting Thursday week in Brisbane.

Trescothick and Vaughan are the only two batsmen in the England squad with Test averages of more than 40.

The England list of walking wounded seems to be growing every day with young quick Simon Jones (side strain) in doubt for next week's three-day match against WA, while Darren Gough and Andrew Flintoff are still on the mend from knee and hernia operations respectively.

Despite the disappointing start to the tour, Hussain remained upbeat because the tourists had batted when the pitch was its most lively yesterday.

"Yesterday was a good test and you always want to be tested batting because that is the way the first Test is going to be with their (Australian) bowling attack," he said.

Hussain said nothing had surprised him in the first week of the tour, even though three fringe WA players in Kade Harvey, Callum Thorp and Marsh had starred against his side.

"There has been no easy rides in Test cricket wherever we have been, to Sri Lanka, Pakistan and everywhere," he said.

"Nothing that has happened has surprised me. There are no easy games out here at all, the (state) players are all very fine players."

WA and England have another look at each other in a match starting Monday at the WACA ground.

The Warriors were expected to field a much stronger line-up before England flies to Brisbane on Thursday.

And the gloom in the England camp wasn't brightened today with WA openers Michael Hussey (48) and Chris Rogers (57) putting on a century partnership.

The tourists' pace attack couldn't maintain a consistent line and length early on, forcing captain Nasser Hussain into some very defensive field settings.

But England quick Andy Caddick (2-57) lifted the visitors' hopes in the middle session with the wickets of Rogers and Murray Goodwin (14).

Marcus North (38) and Marsh steadied the home team with a 88-run partnership to ensure WA overhauled England's first innings tally as the match moved towards a draw.

England found few answers to the fast bowling problems displayed in its 58-run loss in the opening tour match against an Australian Cricket Board Chairman's XI on Tuesday.

Matthew Hoggard (2-49) bowled valiantly but couldn't maintain his accuracy while Caddick at least kept it fairly tight.

But young quick Stephen Harmison continued his wretched start to the tour with some wayward bowling.

He finished with figures of 1-89 off 19 overs after being harshly dealt with early on for bowling too short.

"He's struggled, he'd be the first to say that if he came in here but look he's a young lad, he's very raw and no one has said Steve Harmison is the answer to all our problems," Hussain said.