Stewart support for Surrey colleague as withdrawal hits Ashes preparations

Alec Stewart made no attempt yesterday to conceal the potential harm inflicted on England's aspirations to regain the Ashes by the withdrawal of Graham Thorpe.

The team's senior professional said: "He's a cricketer that England need and a cricketer that they will miss during the Ashes series so it's a big blow. But that's cricket, your private life must always come first."

Thorpe's decision failed to shake Lord's to its foundations. When the selectors announced the party of 16 they knew that the batsman's domestic troubles may easily preclude him travelling to Australia, but they were prepared to take the risk, as they were with others who have different problems.

Stewart, speaking in Colombo where England have been competing in the Champions Trophy, said: "He's been through a very difficult time over the last couple of months but a month ago he probably felt he was through the worst of it.

"He's been very honest. Credit it to him for announcing it now rather than in Australia on the day before the First Test when it could have caused absolute chaos."

Potential replacements were not put on stand-by because the selectors felt that, given their injury list, they would have to name too many potential tourists. There are two leading contenders for the position, Robert Key and Mark Ramprakash, neither of whom had heard from the selectors yesterday. Key played two Tests against India in the summer and perhaps did not do enough to convince.

Ramprakash, one of the old guard who made a century on his last Test appearance against Australia in the 2001 series, said: "I've heard nothing, but I'd love the challenge of going. I have been making arrangements to do some cricket coaching and to do a level one football coaching course as well as training at Arsenal."

Thorpe missed six weeks of the summer after deciding that he needed a break from the game to try to resolve the divorce from his wife and arrangements for the custody of their children. But the selectors insisted that he declare his availability or otherwise before they announced the squad.

"His record speaks for itself," said Stewart. "He's missed out on most of the last two Ashes series with injuries and now this. He's a vital cog in the team but the selectors have now got to look forward and try to replace him. Hopefully, people can come in and fill some very big shoes left by Thorpe."

Not many of the Surrey batsman's footprints have been left behind against Australia recently despite a Test average of 41.87 which makes the case for his conclusion unarguable. He has played only once in each of the last two Ashes series.

The Australians, preparing for the Champions Trophy semi-final, in Colombo, were clearly not distressed that Thorpe would again not be facing them.

The one-day captain, Ricky Ponting, said: "It's bound to put a dent in England's sails. I suppose a few of our bowlers will be going around with smiles on their faces."

But the vice-captain Adam Gilchrist said he did not think Thorpe's absence would change Australian thoughts. "I don't think there's any name we fear, equally there's none we don't respect and nobody's saying 'you beauty, it's great to see him in'."

The excitement about Thorpe and his replacement passed most of Colombo by. They are still in thrall to the Champions Trophy where India play South Africa in the first semi-final today. South Africa's captain Shaun Pollock was routinely and blandly upbeat about his team, but if India bat a 10th as well as they did against England there is only one winner.