Don't expect too much, Thorpe warns

Graham Thorpe, a late addition to the England squad for their short tour of Zimbabwe, warned on Thursday against high expectations of his personal contribution to the visitors' performance.

Thorpe was called up this week to replace injured Yorkshire all-rounder Craig White in the squad to play five one-day internationals against Zimbabwe, starting in Harare next Wednesday.

Thorpe's belated selection represents his comeback to the international arena following three months on the sidelines with calf and hand injuries.

"I've got a lot of catching up to do physically," the Surrey left hander told reporters after England's first tour practice in Harare.

"I'm not expecting any miracles from myself, but it's good to be back around the boys and I'm preparing to be in the one-day side again.

"I know that once I get my body 100 percent right the cricket will fall back into place. It's a frightening thing when you pick up injuries and you have three months out. At times it does set the alarm bells ringing. I know I'm not 21 any more, but you realise have to work harder on your body."

SQUAD VETERAN

Thorpe, 32, and the veteran with 68 one-day caps in a squad of 16 which shares just 260 caps, could nonetheless prove a vital player in a side attempting to end a slump of 11 consecutive one-day defeats.

"We've got a lot of hard work to do on our one-day game," Thorpe said. "I don't think any of us are under any illusions what the last year has been like in our one-day cricket and how tough we've found it.

"We've got to work hard to catch up with the big boys. Australia, South Africa, Pakistan, India - there's lots of very good one-day sides, and if we're going to mount a realistic challenge on the (2003) World Cup we've got to get our preparation right."

The home side, Thorpe felt, would provide England with worthy opposition.

"Zimbabwe are a competent one-day side and whenever I've played against them, especially out here, they've probably had the better of us," Thorpe said.

Mail Cricket Editor