Thorpe awarded MBE

Graham Thorpe missed out on last year's monumental Ashes series © Getty Images Enlarge

Just over 12 months ago, Thorpe made an unbeaten 66 for England against Bangladesh; his 100th Test, It was to be his last as England opted to introduce Kevin Pietersen to the Australians the following month.

His 100 Tests earned him 6,774 runs at the healthy average of 44.66; in a 13-year career, dogged by back injuries, marital problems, and a period out of the game, he was one of England's finest middle-order batsmen.

"I was really taken aback by it," Thorpe told BBC Sport. "But I am extremely proud I have been recognised in this way. This is not the reason you play cricket - but getting this sort of recognition is something I am very proud of."

Thorpe, England's 10th highest run-scorer in Tests, joined a select band of players to make a hundred on debut (114 not out against Australia, at Trent Bridge, in 1993), and later shone against Sri Lanka and Pakistan on England's successful subcontinent tour in 2000-01.