Graham Thorpe has been recalled to the England squad for the 5fth, and final, npower Test against South Africa at The Oval.

The 34-year-old batsman has been a notable absentee from the Test side all summer but has been given a belated recall due to Nasser Hussain's broken toe. Thorpe will make his international comeback on his home ground with England needing victory to square the series 2-2.

The Surrey left-hander was described as a "like-for-like" replacement by chairman of selectors David Graveney, with the only other change from Headingley seeing Worcestershire Gareth Batty named in place of the injured James Kirtley.

Thorpe's Surrey colleague Martin Bicknell was included despite doubts over a hamstring injury, with England waiting on his performance in the National League to judge his fitness.

But it is Thorpe's return that will be the main talking point of the squad as he seeks to add to his 77 Test caps. His last appearance in an England shirt was as a distracted man at Lord's against India last year, a sad prelude to his messy withdrawal from the Ashes tour squad later in the summer.

Now, after the fall-out from his well-publicised marriage break-up, Thorpe is back doing what he does best; namely batting with the grit and style that has already brought him more than 5,000 Test runs.

Ironically it is Hussain, one of his staunchest allies, who now makes way for the prodigal's return, although it would be reassuring to think the pair of them should be at the crease together over the winter.

"I will try to take this opportunity with both hands," said Thorpe on Radio Five Live. "I've been waiting for this but I've been enjoying my cricket with Surrey throughout the summer," he added.

"It's going to be tough. It's not as though as I'm going into something I haven't done before but I've been out for a year and that's a long time to be out of international cricket."

The old adage of class and form should see to that, especially with Thorpe guaranteed a rousing reception on his home ground.

Indeed, it's lining up to be something of a red-flag Test for Surrey with Alec Stewart biding farewell, Mark Butcher in hot form and Bicknell perhaps playing a "home" Test for the first time.

Ed Smith retains his place despite a bad Test at Headingley, Kabir Ali gets a deserved second chance and both Ashley Giles and Steve Harmison are named after being left out from the final XI in the last Test.

Graveney, who said Batty had been chosen to give England added bowling options, also confirmed that Thorpe had committed himself fully to the Test side.

"He's made himself available for the winter and he will be in the mix when we look at the tour squads. I've spoken to him during the summer and he is obviously had a very difficult time, but he assures me that he wants to commit himself to England and in the end you have to take someone's word for it."

England squad: Vaughan (capt), Trescothick, Butcher, Thorpe, Smith, Stewart, Flintoff, Giles, Batty, Bicknell, Ali, Anderson, Harmison.

31 Aug, 2003