100 TESTS FOR ENGLAND

Alec Stewart: 133
Graham Gooch: 118
David Gower: 117
Michael Atherton: 115
Colin Cowdrey: 114
Geoffrey Boycott: 108
Ian Botham: 102
Graham Thorpe: 98



Graham Thorpe is ready to play the 100th Test of his career, which is due to come when England play Bangladesh in the second Test of the coming series.

The 35-year-old, who happens to be in patchy form for Surrey this season, would become the eighth England player to make a century of appearances.

Thorpe said: "I would love to play 100 Tests, that would be wonderful.

"I am never one to tempt fate or look to landmarks but I have an opportunity and it is in my own hands."

Since his recall against South Africa in the summer finale of 2003, the left-hander, arguably the best English batsman of his generation, has averaged 52.65 in 21 appearances for his country.

This term, he has one score of 59 and three single-figure scores in the County Championship, but he is inked in to play for England against Test cricket's newest nation and to bat at number five.

Thorpe is not tempting fate, however.

He said: "Life can be cruel and I might get injured but if I don't play any more Test matches so be it.

"I have had a fantastic ride playing international cricket and been privileged to have one more crack at it so feel very lucky whatever comes this summer."

I think I am best just playing every game as if it was my last




Realistically the Ashes battle later in the summer will be a fitting international swansong.

And there are suggestions from the man himself that he may hang up his boots at the end of it, 12 years after his debut against the same Australian opponents.

"It would not be fair to anybody, to myself or the teams I play in to look beyond this summer," he added. "I think I am best just playing every game as if it was my last, that is pretty much how I have been playing since I got back into the international set-up. "This summer I have not got a great deal to lose. It has been a pretty good journey in the past 18 months, probably the best period I have played for England."

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msj009

I think we, mostly the desi people, don't like the English players. So, we don't care actually if they play 100 matches, that's why not many replies in this thread.

This is just my opinion, I never like England. They just play boring cricket.

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Cheers, --- Wahid Khan ---

I agree with you. I don't like England as a team. They have an attitude, that they are better then the rest, especially in the '90's when I could follow cricket on BBC. But Australia showed them again and again, in which position they are. Now they are ranked second, they seriously think they can overtake Australia. I hope the Australians will show them no mercy and win a lot of matches against them.

But on the other hand I like some individuals, like Thorpe, along with Hussain, Gough and Stewart. So somehow I feel good for Thorpe.

good achievement from him..he used to be a good player but i think he is done now..dosent have much energy and atleteicsm to play with

he has played for england for a long time now.... but i dont follow too much english cricket cuz its boring. but watching the ashes would be fun!

What the hell. He isn't a good player anymore. Are you crazy? Well this proves he is better than ever:

'Since his recall against South Africa in the summer finale of 2003, the left-hander, arguably the best English batsman of his generation, has averaged 52.65 in 21 appearances for his country.'

lol he is very good player still he got very good talent and he will be one of the key player in the ashes becouse he is the one in the team who got alot of expriyence i think it will be fun to watch ashes this time becouse england is also preaty strong right now soo battel will be great between asuus vs england

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