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Thorpe's England return would risk antagonising peers

Angus Fraser
Friday 18 July 2003 00:00 BST
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The return to full health of Graham Thorpe and the continued appearance of Darren Gough on a cricket field has left the England selectors in a pleasant but unenviable position as they select their side for the First Test against South Africa at Edgbaston on Thursday.

The squad, to be announced at 12.15 today, will give an indication of just how ruthless David Graveney, the chairman of selectors, Rod Marsh, Geoff Miller and Duncan Fletcher are in their thirst for instant success.

If the aim of this quartet is to pick the strongest team, the decision is simple. If they think Thorpe has recovered from the domestic traumas that almost ended his career a year ago, is fully committed to the cause and has a valuable role to play in Nasser Hussain's side, then the 33-year-old should bat at No 5.

The real issue is not the selection of Thorpe who, until Michael Vaughan arrived on the scene last year, was England's outstanding batsman of the last decade. The resulting omission of the Yorkshire captain, Anthony McGrath, who has scored 69 and 81 in his two Test innings to date, is the cause of the selectors' consternation.

Since Hussain and Fletcher took charge of the England team in 1999 there have been many improvements to the running of the side. The biggest, and perhaps most influential, has been a consistent selection policy. The selectors will be aware that picking Thorpe ahead of McGrath does not offer this, even if the Surrey batsman's Test record - 5,109 runs at an average of 41.88 in 77 Test matches - is far better than his rival's will ever be.

As well as their relative abilities, the selectors also have to consider what effect Thorpe's recall could have on the rest of the side. Hussain, the captain, would love to have his mate batting at five but other players may not be quite so willing to forgive the left-hander for pulling out of the winter tour of Australia. His immediate return could be seen by some as a case of "one rule for us, and one rule for him".

Such matters, however, are out of Thorpe's control. All he can do is show the selectors he is in good form - by scoring heavily for Surrey - and assure them that his private life is no longer going to affect his availability for England. The runs have come but it has taken three one-on-one meetings with the selectors to check that his personal life is settled and his commitment is genuine. High on their list of demands would be that Thorpe confirmed his availability for this winter when England tour Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and the West Indies. These assurances were given by Thorpe.

One thing he will be aware of is that this is his last chance with these selectors. A repeat of his behaviour last summer, when the breakdown of his marriage and an acrimonious battle with his ex-wife over seeing his two children forced him to withdraw from cricket completely, will signify the end of his England career.

No such sentence will be passed on the Kent opener Robert Key but his failure to post a substantial score for England this season, and Andrew Flintoff's return to fitness, will see him overlooked.

Gough's recall, after successfully coming through England's one-day programme, has the potential to cause as much anxiety as Thorpe's, except that Richard Johnson is struggling to prove he has fully recovered from groin and calf problems which hampered him in the latter stages of the NatWest Series.

Both have dodgy fitness records but Gough, who played for Yorkshire this week in Durham, is in a better position to prove his body is up to the rigorous demands of a Test match. Johnson took 6 for 33 on his debut but he may have to make way for the 32-year-old Gough.

The selectors will be given updates on the condition of the two fast bowlers from Dr Peter Gregory, the chief medical officer of the England and Wales Cricket Board, though it is hard to believe he knows if a body is strong enough to get through a Test. If either fail to get the doctor's nod, Sussex's James Kirtley, Lancashire's Glen Chapple or the Yorkshire tearaway Steve Kirby could be in line for a late call-up.

POSSIBLE ENGLAND TEAM (from): N Hussain (Essex, capt), M E Trescothick (Somerset), M P Vaughan (Yorkshire), M A Butcher (Surrey), G P Thorpe (Surrey), A McGrath (Yorkshire), A J Stewart (Surrey, wkt), A Flintoff (Lancashire), A F Giles (Warwickshire), R L Johnson (Somerset), D Gough (Yorkshire), S J Harmison (Durham), J M Anderson (Lancashire).

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