Trescothick was out first ball in his last England game in September

Trescothick missed the Champions Trophy for personal reasons but Strauss said: "He can't wait to get out to Australia.

"He's been doing a lot of work at home on his batting and mentally preparing.

"Marcus is the most professional guy in the England side and come that first day in Brisbane he will be very focused and he feels he has a point to prove."

Trescothick's problems began when he returned early from the tour of India last winter.

It was thought they were resolved when he regained his place for the opening home Test of the season against Sri Lanka and scored a century, but he passed fifty only once in his next 11 Test innings.

We all know what it's going to be like and regardless of how it goes it's going to be memorable, one of the highlights of my career Andrew Strauss

He scored one-day centuries against Ireland and Sri Lanka but after three low scores against Pakistan it was announced he was suffering from a "stress-related illness" and would not play before the Ashes.

"He didn't have the best of summers but I don't think that was down to his problems off the pitch," Strauss told BBC Sport.

"I know what an important member of the side he is, if he's firing it will go a long way to making sure the team is firing."

Strauss, who scored two centuries and averaged 39 in his maiden campaign against Australia in England last summer, is pleased that all thoughts can now turn to the Ashes, after an unsuccessful campaign in India.

"We had some meetings prior to coming out to India about how we wanted to approach things in Australia but now the juices are really starting to flow," he said.

"They're on their home patch, they're the number one team in the world and they're under a lot of pressure to win back the Ashes.

"We all know what it's going to be like judging what the last Ashes series was like and, regardless of how it goes, it's going to be memorable, one of the highlights of my career.

"We're leaving no stone unturned, we need to be as prepared as we possibly can be on and off the pitch and also with anything that comes up such as media stuff or crowds

"From our point of view it's important we don't focus on one man, they're a four or five-man attack and it's important to keep playing the balls not the characters.

"That proved very effective in England and we'll do the same again."