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| |  Saturday, 13 July, 2002, 18:19 GMT 19:19 UK Thorpe quits one-dayers  Thorpe (left) lost his place to Michael Vaughan England batsman Graham Thorpe has announced his retirement from one-day international cricket. The Surrey left-hander's decision came after he was left out of the team for the NatWest Series final against India at Lord's. He explained that the demands of playing both Test cricket and one-day matches are putting too much strain on his body. He also wants to devote more time to family life, having been forced to fly home from last winter's tour to India because of marital problems. "In terms of keeping my body fit it's becoming harder to do, playing both Tests and one-day internationals so I've decided to concentrate on just playing Test matches," he said. "I also want to have more time to build a relationship with my two children, given my new personal circumstances at home."
He passed fifty on 11 occasions. but never reached three figures, with his highest score of 89 coming against Pakistan in Peshawar during the 1996 World Cup. "Graham's been a fantastic one-day player for England and we'll miss him but we look forward to him continuing to be a key player in our Test match side," said coach Duncan Fletcher. "Given that he let us know his decision to retire from the one-day team at that time, we decided it was a good opportunity to continue with Michael (Vaughan) in the side and let him gain further valuable experience in one-day international cricket." Thorpe led England in three one-day games in Sri Lanka last year, but finished on the losing side on each occasion and admitted he had no serious captaincy ambitions. He is still rated by many as England's premier Test batsman and looks a certain selection for this winter's Ashes tour to Australia, fitness permitting. He made his first double century in Tests in New Zealand earlier this year and his know-how will be crucial if England are to win back the Ashes for the first time since 1986-87. | |
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