BBC SPORT | Cricket | England | Brilliant Thorpe's constant battle



By Martin Gough BBC Sport Online

The adage may more usually be ascribed to Yorkshire but it rings equally true that when Graham Thorpe does well, England do well.

The trouble is that England misfortune also tends to coincide with the left-hander's own.

In a 77-Test career, stretching back to that debut 114 not out against Australia in 1993, Thorpe has made 5109 runs at an average of 41.87.

Thorpe's troubled tours

1998/99: Leaves Ashes tour early with back injury

1999/2000: Makes himself unavailable for trip to South Africa

2001/02: Comes home from India early, citing personal problems

2002/03: Makes U-turn over decision to tour Australia

That average soars to 59.29 in England victories, indicating a key player, and it drops to 30.40 when England are on the wrong end of a result.

But, while England know they can rely on Thorpe when he is at the crease, they have grown increasingly uncertain whether he will make it there.

Thorpe pulls out of Ashes tour

After missing a winter in South Africa to spend time with his family, Thorpe was back to his best in Pakistan and Sri Lanka in 2000/01.

He hit the winning runs, capping an unbeaten 64 in the Karachi dusk, to steal a series victory.

An exhausting century in Kandy saw England come from 1-0 behind to clinch a three-match series for the first time in 113 years.

A maiden Test double-century in record time against New Zealand last March saw England take a series lead over New Zealand that they should have held.

Graham Thorpe and Nasser Hussain in Karachi
Thorpe hit the winning runs in Karachi
And his latest century, against Sri Lanka at Edgbaston, brought an innings victory over Sri Lanka after the first Test was drawn.

But around those star performances there have been injuries and voluntary absences.

A calf strain prior to the 2001 series, and a broken hand suffered during it, prevented Thorpe from contributing in what was a sorry chapter in England's Ashes history.

England survived his decision to go home on the morning of the second Test against India last December, but an inexperienced side were unable to turn around a 1-0 series deficit.

And, after winning the first Test at Lord's emphatically, England were unable to clinch a home series victory over India as their prize asset took a complete break from the game.

Priorities

But Thorpe has often made it clear that there is more on his mind than cricket, even with career milestones such as the Ashes and the World Cup on the horizon.

He has often felt guilty in the past about spending time away from his two children.

Graham Thorpe batting against Pakistan
Thorpe began 2001 with a century at Old Trafford
The break-up of his marriage over the last year has apparently made that even more vital.

And his statement after this latest pull-out showed the contrast between the priorities of most sportsmen and those of the star left-hander.

"It would be wrong for me to go to Australia purely for the financial gain that it would bring me whilst I am finding it difficult to fully focus on the job in hand 100% of the time," he said.

His mid-summer step away from the game prompted talk of reducing international schedules to prevent burn-out.

But this latest move has made it clear that Thorpe is unique, both in his contribution to the England cause and in the way he approaches the game.