Graham Thorpe - Retirement

Retirement

Thorpe announced his retirement from Test cricket after the England selectors chose Kevin Pietersen instead of him for the first Test of The Ashes in July 2005. Arguably, there was a stronger case for Pietersen to replace Ian Bell who, although averaging an impressive 303 at the time, had only played 3 tests against weaker test opposition and had a closer defensive batting style to Thorpe's. Thorpe himself averaged over 49.00 against Australia, but given the impending back complaint and 2005/2006 winter tour unavailability the selectors felt the decision to replace Thorpe with Pietersen the correct one. After announcing the squad England chairman of selectors David Graveney described it as "most difficult decision that I have been party to in my time as a selector". (Bell subsequently found the Australian attack a far sterner test than West Indies and Bangladesh had provided, averaging 17.10 in the series.) Thorpe played another two months with Surrey before following up his test retirement with his retirement from domestic cricket in August 2005. He served New South Wales as a batting coach in two seasons starting in 2005/6 and played for UTS-Balmain in the Sydney First Grade competition. Thorpe was named as assistant coach of New South Wales in 2007 replacing Matthew Mott who was promoted to the position of coach.

Thorpe was created a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) on 17 June 2006. Thorpe made his debut as a summariser for BBC Radio's Test Match Special programme during the first Test of India's 2007 tour of England. He also appeared as a match summariser on Sky Sports' highlights coverage for the same series. He has written a monthly column for the UK-based cricket magazine, SPIN World Cricket Monthly, since December 2006.