BBC SPORT | Cricket | England | Thorpe given Ashes deadline

Graham Thorpe has been given until next Wednesday to decide whether to make himself available for England's forthcoming Ashes tour of Australia.

The 33-year-old left-hander, regarded as one of the side's leading batsman, has taken a break from cricket after the collapse of his marriage.

And county side Surrey said this week that he would be unlikely to appear for them for the rest of the season, leaving him short of match practice.

"It will be up to Graham in the next week to get a phone call in to the England selectors to tell us that he's available," captain Nasser Hussain said.

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Hussain said that even if Thorpe made himself available he could not be guaranteed a place for the trip, but he admitted that it would be a difficult decision.

"Australia will view it as a weaker England side with Graham Thorpe not there - he is one of our best players," he said.

"But we can't keep having the Graham Thorpe issue cropping up."

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Australian Test captain Steve Waugh said on Monday that Thorpe was a quality player.

"He's made a decision that he believes to be right and you've got to respect that; it's a courageous decision," said Waugh, who will play county cricket with Kent for the rest of the season.

Australia skipper Steve Waugh
Waugh says he "respects" Thorpe's decision
The announcement of the touring squad is likely to be delayed until after the fourth and final Test against India at The Oval early next month.

Thorpe's England recent career has been blighted by personal pressures and a back injury.

But he continues to average around 45 - considered the mark of a world-class batsman and the best in the side.

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Surrey team-mate Stewart said he and the entire England squad backed Thorpe's decision to take time out.

"He's made the right decision from Graham Thorpe's point of view. He's honest enough to say, 'I must put my family first before I can get my cricket career back on track."