Thorpe wary of West Indies threat

Surrey batting coach Thorpe says the West Indies was his favourite tour

Former England and Surrey batsman Graham Thorpe says England must beware of a "regrouping" West Indies.

Thorpe, 39, was part of the England team that ended the 36-year wait for a series win in the Caribbean in 2004.

He told BBC London 94.9: "The West Indies are regrouping and have got some sharp bowlers now.

"With Gayle, Sarwan and Chanderpaul the mainstay of the batting, if those three fire, life can be a little bit harder for England than it looks on paper."

He added: "Obviously with the woes England have gone through before the tour started, then if they can get off to a good start in the Caribbean all that will be brushed under the carpet and everything will be fine.

"But if they don't get off to a good start, there's certainly areas the West Indies can be vocal about to the English."

Thorpe, who averaged 44.66 in 100 tests for England and is now the batting coach at Surrey, says of all the tours, the West Indies was his favourite.

"The first time I went there, we were up against an extremely tough pace attack and the wickets were lively," said Thorpe.

"On the last one, the wickets were slower, they were a little more cracked and their bowling attack didn't have the same intensity as it did on the first time."

And although Thorpe scored his maiden Test century in Australia, he felt his first trip to the West Indies was his coming-of-age tour.

He concluded: "Four quick bowlers coming at you all day, with no respite, I learnt so much on the tour in 1993 to the West Indies.

"My other memories were Brian Lara breaking the world record twice - I think I was the only Englishman to field in both those games, the 374 and the 400.

"They were always hard-fought series. I think England's best opportunities of winning are on the Jamaica and Barbados tracks and I feel they should be strong enough to beat the West Indies if they play well in two Test matches."