Sport 02-10-2001 Cricket: Thorpe Returns To Inspire England who: England cricket team what: Beat Zimbabwe A by 138 runs in one-day series warm-up where: Harare, Zimbabwe when: Yesterday snippet: "Graham Thorpe`s return from injury inspired England`s experimental line-up to an impressive warm-up victory over Zimbabwe A," reports The Guardian`s Myles Hodgson on the eve of the first of five one-day internationals, "as they began their long-term build-up to the next World Cup." "Although the starts made by Matthew Hoggard, Jeremy Snape and James Kirtley were impressive," says Rufus Ndlovu in The Telegraph, "it was the stunning return of Thorpe which will have most caught the eye of coach Duncan Fletcher." "The Surrey left-hander scored 95 as England thrashed Zimbabwe A by 138 runs," writes John Etheridge in The Sun, describing him unequivocally as "England`s best batsman". "Thorpe missed the NatWest Series one-day tournament involving Australia and Pakistan, plus the first Test against Australia, with a calf strain," recalls James Alexander in The Independent. "Then, on his return, his right hand was broken by a nasty rising delivery from [Australia`s] Brett Lee and Thorpe`s season was over." "Last summer was one of the lowest points of my career," says Thorpe. "Having to endure two injuries was pretty hard to take. But I`ve come to realise these things happen in sport and I`ve learned to be philosophical." [... more]

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