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CRICKET ROADSHOWS

Week 13 Review - 3 Aug, Whitgift (Surrey) Athers backs Thorpe return

Former England captain Michael Atherton has backed Graham Thorpe to overcome his personal traumas and make a successful return to the Test team.

Speaking on Saturday's Cricket Roadshow, broadcast live from Whitgift School in Surrey, Athers backed his ex teammate to triumph through adversity after his announcement to take a complete break from the sport.

"I think he's probably made an eminently sensible decision because it's very difficult to play cricket, especially top level cricket, when you're brain's a bit scrambled – and it clearly is a bit scrambled at the moment," said Atherton.

"He's got lots of things going on in his private life and he's probably best to get them sorted and then come back to cricket when his mind's clear and uncluttered and he can go and play his best cricket for England."

Thorpe also got the support of England colleague John Crawley, who had his own distractions last winter with a protracted and bitter transfer from Lancashire to Hampshire.

The rejuvenated batsman has since gone on to reclaim his England spot and record an emotional Test century at Lord's, but he still has empathy for Thorpe.

"I first saw him back at the Sri Lanka Test match, the first one at Lord's, and there was something obviously very much wrong there. I've had long chats with him, as a lot of players have, because I've played a lot of cricket with Thorpey," said Crawley.

"He is struggling and I think it's quite a tight-knit unit now in the England dressing and all the players are feeling for him and hoping that he can get this situation sorted out so that he can come back and be the player that we all know he is."

Reflecting on his own success Crawley said he was "tickled pink" to get his name on the Lord's Honours' board, especially so close to the anniversary of his mother's death last year. "It meant a lot because my dad had come down for that day and we all miss her hugely," admitted Crawley.

Elsewhere on the programme Mark Nicholas gave a potted history of Whitgift School - which was playing host to the Norwich Union League match between Surrey and Northants - Adam Darke investigated how the PCA help retired cricketers into new employment and three Butchers – Alan, Mark and Gary – talked about sporting dynasties.

There was also a comprehensive review of England's opening Test win against India at Lord's and preview of the forthcoming 2nd Test starting in Nottingham on Thursday.

The biggest selection conundrum appears to be over Thorpe's replacement but Atherton put his money on Robert Key getting the nod ahead of other pretenders such as Mark Ramprakash, Ian Bell and David Fulton.

"What I think they might do is drop Butcher down to his preferred position at number three and bring an opening batsman in to partner Michael Vaughan, and that man might be Robert Key from Kent," he said.

"I think they'll expect Trescothick to come back for the last Test of the summer so by moving Butcher to three, Hussain four and Crawley five there is minimum disruption then by bringing an opener in who will make way for Marcus Trescothick eventually. It gives the opportunity for a young player like Robert Key to come in for a couple of games and see how he'll do."

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