In August of 2003, Marcus Trescothick played his 36th Test match. By the end of it he'd racked up 2451 career runs at 39.53 with 3 centuries and 17 fifties. His career strike rate was 51.16. He was well and truly established in the England side and had established a platform from which he was to go on to serve his side even better. Oh, and by that time he'd played 10 innings against Australia, returning 582 runs at 29.10 with 4 fifties.

Ian Bell has now played his 36th Test match. He's got 2546 career runs (5 fewer) at 43.15 (4 more) with 7 centuries (4 more) and 18 fifties (1 more). His career strike rate is 50.33. He is well established in the England side and has been described recently in the Wisden magazine as being "on the cusp of greatness". Oh, and he has played 10 innings against Australia, returning 502 runs (80 fewer) at 25.1 (4 fewer) with 6 fifties (2 more).

The stats are scarily similar at this stage in their careers... though it has to be said that Bell, with his far more complete game, seems destined to leave Tresco rather trailing in his wake over the coming years.