LONDON, May 25: England batsman Graham Thorpe could be set to play his last Tests on home soil having announced on Wednesday he had agreed a contract with Australian state side New South Wales. Left-handed batsman Thorpe, who is set to make his 99th Test appearance against Bangladesh at Lord’s on Thursday, has been widely expected to announce his retirement from international cricket after this season’s home Ashes series against Australia.

He is not due to arrive in Sydney until January, meaning he would be available for the tour to Pakistan but out of contention for England’s post Christmas tour of India.

Thorpe, 36 in August, said: “At this stage of my career, it makes sense to start planning for the future and this is an excellent opportunity for me to develop my career in a new environment.

“I will be using the time to enhance my coaching qualifications and looking to contribute as much as I can to their cricket on and off the field.

“I informed (England coach) Duncan Fletcher and (England chairman of selectors) David Graveney of my plans yesterday (Tuesday) and have also assured them that as far as this summer is concerned, I will be giving all my attention to the forthcoming Test series against Bangladesh and Australia.”

An England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) statement also said Thorpe would play for an unnamed Sydney Grade Club side, assist the New South Wales coaching set-up and be available to play for the reigning Sheffield Shield champions “if required”.

Thorpe, who made a hundred on debut against Australia at Trent Bridge in 1993, has scored 6,636 Test runs at an average of 43.94 with 16 hundreds and a best of 200 not out against New Zealand at Christchurch in 2001-02.

However, he has come back early from and missed several tours as well as parts of home series because of problems associated with the break-up of his marriage and his desire to spend time with his children.

If Thorpe does play for New South Wales, he will be the first England cricketer to play Sheffield Shield cricket since Ian Botham had a brief stint at Queensland in the 1987-88 season.—AFP