Graham Thorpe returned this week from England's tour of India for personal reasons and will play no part in the third and final Test.

An England and Wales Cricket Board statement read: "Pressing matters of a personal nature have arisen that required Graham's immediate attention."

The national press have since revealed that the former Farnham player's 'personal problems' concern his six-year marriage to his wife, Nicky.

Thorpe, apparently, has not been himself on tour, although he made an assured 62 in the first Test, and the team management considered he was better off trying to sort things out at his Epsom home.

The left-hander's involvement in the one-day series in India and following hectic schedule in New Zealand remains in doubt.

But chairman of selectors, David Graveney, has given Wrecclesham-born Thorpe a vote of confidence and said that the player will not jeopardise his international career if he withdraws from the rest of the winter programme.

"It's a serious situation and we have to respect that. As a selector, I feel obliged to give him the maximum amount of time and support to help resolve his problems."