Thorpe returns as batting coach

Surrey great Graham Thorpe will be returning to The Oval as a batting coach, the English county announced Tuesday. Left-hander Thorpe, a one-county man who played 100 Tests for England, scoring 6,744 runs at 44.66 with 16 hundreds and a best of 200 not out, has been away from The Oval since retiring as a player three years ago.

In that time the now 39-year-old Thorpe has worked as a coach with Australian state side New South Wales.

Surrey were relegated from the top flight of the four-day County Championship last season after finishing bottom of the First Division, having failed to win any of their 16 matches.

"I've been associated with the club for three decades," he told the club's website.

"I'm passionate about Surrey doing well and am looking forward to working with the players, cricketing staff and everyone involved with Surrey to bring back success to the club as soon as possible."

LONDON, Wednesday AFP