Thorpe comes back to Surrey

Graham Thorpe will be able to lend Surrey his 18 years experience as a batsman

Graham Thorpe is returning to Surrey in the role of specialist batting coach after spending 18 years as a professional with the club.

Thorpe made his first-class debut in 1988, but joined Surrey’s ranks as a nine year-old, working his way through before making his international debut in 1993.

Thorpe represented Surrey 189 times in first-class cricket and averaged 44.97. He had a very similar average in Test cricket, playing 100 matches and becoming the 10th leading run-scorer in England’s history.

He was appointed an MBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours list of 2006.

“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,” he said.

The gritty left-hander comes back to Surrey after three years away from the Brit Oval, during which time he worked as both assistant coach and specialist batting coach of Australia state side New South Wales.

He will work with the first and second team squads, Pemberton Greenish Surrey academy and a number of young cricketers in the club’s age-group squads.

Managing director of Surrey Cricket Gus Mackay said: “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.

“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.”