Thorpe gets last minute call up

Graham Thorpe has been called up by England just 48 hours before they set off on their tour of Zimbabwe.

Thorpe was not considered for the threeweek trip when the selectors made their choices last month because he had still not recovered from the broken hand that forced him to sit out most of the Ashes series.

But today?s news that all- rounder Craig White will miss the tour after damaging his knee during a practice session last week prompted England to summon their most experienced available batsman.

?It may not appear to be a like-for-like swap but it was planned to use Craig in the top three of the batting order,? explained chairman of selectors David Graveney.

Yorkshire fast bowler Chris Silverwood will replace the squad?s other knee injury victim, Jimmy Ormond.