Thorpe hopes for a longer-term renaissance

He's just turned 34, and with his long-time Surrey and England colleague Alec Stewart recently retired at 40, talk of an Indian summer for Graham Thorpe may even sound premature. But there are real signs that, fitness permitting, this accomplished left-hander may have recovered his appetite for another substantial stay at the highest level.

"I'd love my career to carry on," Thorpe said on England's departure for the first leg of their winter tour in Bangladesh. "Staying fit is the most important thing for me - I`ve had back problems in the past and I hope they stay away, and that I can manage that throughout this winter."

There may be a touch of grey about the temples, but Thorpe's demeanour could hardly form a more reassuring contrast to the tortured, withdrawn figure whose domestic problems precipitated a complete break from cricket little over a year ago. Hopes that he might make last winter's Ashes tour were dashed when personal doubts resurfaced after his initial selection, persuading him to withdraw.

No such doubts this time. "I'm thoroughly looking forward to it - a lot of my trials and tribulations are well documented and well behind me. I think when you're younger, you look at some stats and some figures, and you think you'd like to do this and that. I've probably had enough happen to me away from cricket to make me realise that statistics aren't the most important things in life."

Thorpe's winter selection became automatic when - recalled by England on his home ground against South Africa after his old friend Nasser Hussain broke a toe - he made the most of a vital opportunity. Did he feel any nerves when he came out to begin that classic comeback knock last month?

"I'm a good poker player," he laughed. "No, I was very nervous. But once I was over the rope I was all right, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I had to scrap pretty hard, because I hadn't played at that level for a good year, but the following day when I came out, I really found my feet, and enjoyed the whole occasion. It was a great Test match - certainly in the top three or four I've played in my career."

Nor does Thorpe's record on the sub-continent augur ill for the next couple of months. In his previous Test there he scored 113 and an unbeaten 32 in draining conditions to secure England's remarkable 2-1 win over Sri Lanka in 2001.

Thorpe on his way to 64 at Dhaka (c) Getty Images

"I've got special memories of Pakistan and Sri Lanka, but it's Bangladesh first - it's a place not a lot of us have been to, and they'll be tough in their own country. Their Test performances have improved over the last year, and they're waiting to jump up on someone and get their first Test victory, so we'll have to be careful that it doesn't happen to us.

"If we play well we can win there, and I think people will expect us to, but as players we're not cocky - we're not about achieving that at the drop of a hat. It's going to take some hard work. We've got some young bowlers, and we're missing some pace in Flintoff and Anderson, which is important at times on the sub-continent, so we've got to work hard."

Thorpe's presence in the England middle order cements a massively experienced batting line-up - their likely top five boast nearly 300 caps between them - which should keep the pressure off the young attack if they perform to potential against the international minnows.

"I certainly want to contribute well," Thorpe added. "I'll be going out there with a lot of desire and hunger to score hundreds, and for England to win, so that's the way I'll be viewing this whole winter."

If it works out in the short term, Thorpe is little more than a year away from playing in his hundredth Test match. "Physically, I still feel in good nick - touchwood. If it all ended tomorrow, I'd still be a happy man, but I'd love it to carry on for a few more years, and to stay fit is obviously a huge part of that."

There may be some bumps left along the remaining road - in cricket that much is guaranteed - but when it comes to GP Thorpe the old maxim still applies. Form is temporary - class is permanent.