Thorpe on way back to England

Thorpe said he was disappointed at having to return home after suffering a recurrence of a back injury against Victoria at the MCG on Monday.

The Surrey left-hander will miss the remaining three Tests against Australia. Australia lead the five Test Ashes series 1-0 entering the third Test starting in Adelaide on Friday.

Thorpe, England's top runscorer of the past two Ashes series, had surgery on his lower back after returning early from the tour of the West Indies in March this year.

The 29-year-old recovered to play the initial three Tests of a five match series against South Africa when the problem flared again.

He missed the tail end of the English summer but was confident he had overcome the injury when he arrived in Australia in late October.

Thorpe's early tour form supported his claim before a long flight from Sydney to Perth after the drawn Ashes opener caused him difficulty.

He was ruled out of the Perth Test and underwent a course of acupuncture to relieve the pain and made a return against Victoria here.

``It's been an ongoing thing but I came out here in my mind fully fit,'' Thorpe said. ``It is a setback again but I'm optimistic that I can get it right.''

Thorpe retired hurt after making one run in 40 minutes against Victoria on Monday.

Team manager Graham Gooch said: ``It's thought if Graham can't prove his fitness it is best that he returns home ... to get it sorted out once and forall.''

He said England would not ask for a replacement player.

Worcestershire batsman Graeme Hick joined the party last month, arriving as cover for Michael Atherton when he was troubled by a back injury then covering for Thorpe in the second Test.