Thorpe returns to Surrey as batting coach

	Graham Thorpe is heading back to The Oval © Getty Images Enlarge

Graham Thorpe, the former England and Surrey left-hander, has returned to The Oval as the club's specialist batting coach.

"I've been associated with the club for three decades, I'm passionate about Surrey doing well and am looking forward to working with the players, cricketing staff and everyone involved with Surrey to bring back success to the Club as soon as possible," Thorpe told Surrey's website.

Thorpe, 39, scored 6744 runs at 44.66 in 100 Tests for England and spent 18 years as a first-class cricketer before moving to Sydney in 2005-06 to work with New South Wales as a batting coach. He became their assistant coach in 2007-08.

"Bringing in Graham has two huge benefits: one is that he's Surrey through and through and second is that he has played cricket at the highest level and coached in Australia, which is a very competitive environment," Gus Mackay, Surrey's managing director, said. "He's been there, he's done it, he's respected and he knows the game inside out.

"This appointment shows that we are totally committed to developing our own players. All our players, and in particular the batters, will benefit from Graham being a part of the cricket management team."