Stewart and Butcher salute Thorpe

Graham Thorpe has retired from international cricket © Getty Images

Former England captain and Surrey team-mate Alec Stewart paid tribute to Graham Thorpe after the announcement that he has retired from international cricket.

Thorpe’s announcement has come just a few weeks before his partner is due to give birth and following the news that he will be taking up a coaching role in Australia this winter.

Stewart said: “He has been a great player and servant for England and since he came back from his injury and domestic problems a few years ago his performances have been fantastic.

“When Graham Thorpe is fit and playing well then he has been a nailed-on certainty to play for England, but now he has announced his retirement the team has to move on just like they did a few years ago when myself and Michael Atherton retired - it's down to the people who have come in now like Ian Bell and Kevin Pietersen.

“I first saw Graham play when he was just 17 and had joined the Surrey staff and I have seen him mature into a superb cricketer over the years who knew his game very well.

© Getty Images

“If England were 20 for three, he was always a great person to walk out to the crease and his hundred on his debut for England against Australia was very special.

“I thought his century in Pakistan in 2000 when he barely scored a boundary was a typical Graham Thorpe innings and another century later that winter to steer us to victory against Sri Lanka in Colombo was another example of him at his best.”

Mark Butcher, a county colleague of Thorpe at Surrey, played many Test matches with the 35-year-old who he ranks as “one of England’s finest ever batsmen”.

Butcher still holds out hope for his own international career, with a wrist injury keeping him out of the team at present.

And he believes Thorpe will be sorely missed by England, although, as Surrey captain, Butcher considers the news beneficial to the county cause.

“Graham is a fantastic cricketer and one of England's finest ever batsman,” said Butcher. “I have enjoyed playing with him for Surrey and England for many years and he will be a massive loss for the England dressing room.

“I know that England's loss is Surrey's gain, he will be determined to carry on scoring runs for Surrey as we look to win the championship.

“His record for England since his debut in 1993 has been second to none, his record speaks for itself, he will be remembered as one of the greats. He has always been a player who I have looked up to and respected.”