Who should be drafted?

This debate is now closed

Thorpe said events off the pitch had "burnt him out" - he is in the middle of a bitter divorce - and he would now make children Henry and Amelia the centre of his life.

England's next match is the second Test against India at Trent Bridge on 8 August and selectors will announce at the weekend who will replace Thorpe.

Warwickshire's Ian Bell, Kent's Robert Key and David Fulton could all make their debut, while Surrey's Mark Ramprakash, Warwickshire's Nick Knight and Worcestershire's Graeme Hick are all in good form.

Who should step into the breach?

I think Ramprakash should replace Thorpe. He is in good form and has Test experience.
Elizabeth Brett, UK

Anyone who is either able, or has the potential. But please, please, please, NOT someone who has played one good one day innings on TV.
Will, UK

Whatever happened to Usman Afzaal? Or David Sales, Owais Shah and Vikram Solanki? Or we could go for fresh blood in Troughton from Warwickshire. Aftab Habib? Darren Maddy (useful bowler as well)? Or Gordon Muchall - that would be the best pick.

Get him into the full England team as soon as possible and let him learn against the best - we've carried at least one batsman through most of the last two years, so why not carry a youngster with some potential?
Antony, UK

Owais Shah is having a good season, and is one of the most talented batsmen around. That talent is largely unfulfilled at the moment, but he should be given a chance. It could be that, like Trescothick, he turns out to be a big match player.
James Packer, UK

Ramps and Hick class acts? Wrong! Ramps and Hick good county professionals? Right! Ramps or Hick to replace Thorpe? Not if we want to continue to make progress. Key, Bell and Rod Marsh-hardened Academy graduates are the way forward.
Simon, England

If we've learnt anything, it must be that form in county cricket is no indicator of success at the higher level. If Bell is the prospect that the England management believe him to be, then get him in.

The team are on a high and the Indians are bowling on wickets that they hate - when could there be a better time? And if he performs, who's to say that he won't hold his place when everyone is fit? Look how Trescothick took his chance.
Colin, UK

Stewart, Nas and Thorpe himself will be retiring in the next couple of years anyway, so we need to start building the batting order for then. Thorpe won't be guaranteed a place back in the starting XI if his replacement does well. But even if the younger reserves are dropped out of the starting side, they will benefit from the experience and that will help us in the future. Key and Ward are currently the best bets.

As for those suggesting Ramps, Knight, or worst of all Hick - the Aussies would laugh less if we tried to get Gooch and Boycott out of retirement.
Tony Pope, UK

A lot of people in India believe that Graeme Hick should be the replacement. One of the greatest cricketers England has had of late; Hick has been in the limelight for quite a long time. One of the better equipped batsman in the team, he is also a very useful off spinner and a world-class fielder.
Chiradeep, India

I would give Andy Strauss or Ben Hutton a go at the top of the order. Both have shown tremendous promise at Middlesex and appear to have a very good brain for the game.
Rob, England

If England avoid trying a young batsman now they may set themselves for trouble down the line. The whole middle order is the wrong side of 30; are all going to be fit during the winter? Unlikely.
AJ, England

What about Ian ward? He has just scored 124 against Yorkshire and has experience of playing in the England side. Bell is one for the not too distant future. If they pick Hick or Ramprakash they are just going backwards - they have had their chance.
Samantha, UK

Mark Ramprakash is a class act, and is in great form for Surrey. He is one of only a handful of players with a good record against Australia - get him into the team now, ready for the winter.
Iain, UK

It's got to be Keysey. He's got the talent and the mouth to dish it out to the Aussies this winter. Give him the chance and the experience - let's see how good he really is.
Haji, UK

Anyone but Hick or Ramprakash. If they score double hundreds from now until the end of the season they still wouldn't be good enough for Oz.
Chris, England

Why not Ally Brown? The man holds the world record for the highest ever one day score. Knight is a class player but is an opener and could maybe play ahead of Butcher.
James, UK

If the last Test showed us anything, it's that just because a player is over 30, it doesn't mean he's useless. This would be a perfect time to recall either Knight or Hick. I'm sure both would get runs, and Hick would allow the team another bowling option.
Peter, England.

It must be Nick Knight. He is a left hander in stunning form and seems to have discovered how to play long innings.
Colin Stone, England

Why has Durham's Paul Collingwood not been considered? He has shown during the one day games that he handles the pressure well, he is a talented batsman and at 26 a good prospect.
Stuart, UK

It must be Key or Bell - someone with a career in front of them. What happens if Knight, Ramps or Hick are picked, score loads of runs against a not very good Indian bowling attack and then have to be picked for the Ashes series?

Australia worked them out long ago. The same applies to Crawley - presumably he'll go to Oz now but they'll just bring McGrath, Lee or Gillespie on as soon as he comes in and he'll be out.
Simon, UK

Time to look to the future. There's some great young prospects knocking around in county cricket. Bring in an opener and push Butcher down to number three. I'd like to see Andrew Strauss (Middx) given a chance to shine. He is an exceptionally talented, aggressive batsman and an excellent fielder.
Richard Mitchell, UK

I think that Adam Hollioake deserves a chance in the side as he has been batting well. He can also bowl and is a fine fielder
Euan Mathieson, Scotland

Whoever gets brought in will have an ideal chance to score some decent runs against a very poor Indian bowling attack. The selectors should look ahead to the Ashes tour and pick someone who might just score some runs. Hick and Ramps no chance, Knight a better short-term solution. Bell's had a poor season.
Andy Shanks, UK

Why is there this clamour for younger players? Young players will not win us the Ashes this winter. Bring back Knight to open with Vaughan. Thorpe and Trescothick will return, so does it make sense to blood a youngster, leaving them with the knowledge that as soon as Thorpe and Trescothick return the likelihood is that they will be binned?
Bryan, Scotland

With an eye on the Ashes series they must pick someone who they believe will tour Australia and is good enough to get runs out there. Hick, Ramprakash, Knight are nothing new to the Australians, they've knocked them over easily (and cheaply before).

I would definitely go for an Academy player, perhaps Ian Bell, and say to him he has the rest of the summer to show he's Test match class. Saying that though, Thorpe must be picked for the Ashes tour...form is temporary, class is permanent!
SM, England

Anyone who rates the likes of Hick or Ramprakash had better review the statistics of their dismal Test records. If you want young talent, how about Gordon Muchall at Durham (off the back of a fine 250 in the U-19 Test) or Matt Wood at Somerset (ably filling the hole left by Marcus Trescothick)?

On a more radical note, why not promote Craig White up the order to open and find a spot for Ronnie Irani?
James Linham, England

I think Ian Ward should be brought back in for England with Butch moving back to number three. Ward is in a rich vein of form and posseses the kind of attitude that Nas loves.

As for Thorpey, the guy averages 55.00 over the last 15 Test matches he has played for England and will be really missed. Let's hope he comes back even stronger.
Max Eddy, England

If England go for a tried and tested has-been like Ramps or Hick, it will be very disappointing. In my eyes we have three options: Robert Key as opener, with Butcher in at three again. Ian Bell as a direct replacement for Thorpe at four, or Afzaal, who has also been in the runs of late.
Simon Lait, England

Firstly, I wish Graham Thorpe good luck with sorting everything out. He's been a great player for England, and let's hope he can make a successful return after he has focussed on the most important things in his life.

I think youth is the way for his replacement. It is much easier coming into a successful team on debut, and England have looked good WITHOUT good contributions from Thorpe in recent games.

Nick Knight has a good shout, but I think he's best left for ODI's. Ramps and Hick may have good form, but they have had too many chances, and Ian Bell WILL be an England player. Why not now.

It would give great balance to the team if we could blood a good young batsmen in the next year. It also indicates that in the near future there will be a situation much like Australia's where they can drop a player marginally out of form for another good young aggressive player with Test experience.
JC, England

I think Graeme Hick should be given another go as an England player. Hick's in great form for Worcestershire and his experience and resolve will be a steadying influence to an inconsistent England side.
Gordon D. Brown, England

Nick Knight to open with Vaughan, and Hussain and Butcher to arm-wrestle for the number three spot! As a Welsh rat fan, I'd like to congratulate 'Jones the Arm', and suggest Robert Croft might well do better than an out of form Giles (and he can give it some slap with the bat!).
Errol the Hamster, Wales

It should be Robert Key of Kent. He has been in good form all season and deserves his chance. Going back to players such as Ramprakash or Hick would be pointless.

Playing a debutant in the middle order against a demoralised India would be a perfect way to ease him into the highest form of the game, and Jones showed how much enthusiasm and spirit the young players can give if they get the chance.
Peter, UK

There's no way that the selectors should go for Ramprakash, Knight or Hick. We can't keep going back to the 'old guard'. With the rest of the present team in such great form - it's not as if we struggled to score runs witout a good knock from Thorpe - now is most definitely the time to 'blood' a younger player. I'd say go for Ian Bell, or how about even someone like Ben Hutton?!
Simon, Scotland

With a stunning average of over 100 this season, I would feel it criminal if Nick Knight wasn't given another chance. Of course he is on the wrong side of 30 but considering the young crop of talent haven't exactly been scoring loads of runs, Knight would be the ideal choice to replace Thorpe. He is left handed, which would cause Kumble problems for a start!
MJ Carter, England

Ian Bell - get him in the side now! I have heard his form is not great but judging by the one day final where he rose to the occasion he has "big match temperament". If he is one for the future let the future be now.
Richard Earney, UK

Without a doubt Mark Ramprakash should be drafted in. He hit back to back double centuries in the championship and was overlooked! I hope the selectors rectify their mistake.
Vinny, England

After keeping faith with Crawley, White and Cork, England must now bring in a young batsman if they are to prime replacements for some of their ageing batsmen. Robert Key should be given a chance to open the innings with Vaughan, allowing Butcher to drop down to three where he has been so effective for the last twelve months.

With Flintoff and White at seven and eight, and a middle order of Hussain, Crawley and Stewart, this side should provide us with plenty of runs.
Jonathan, England

Kent's Robert Key should come into the side. He's young and has showed great form this season so far. Key should open the batting with Butcher dropping down the order to fill Thorpe's gap. With Crawley being recalled already to bring back another older player would be negative and wrong.
Nathan Carrington, England