The Surrey left-hander, who won his 50th Test cap this week, was awarded the accolade by sponsors Cornhill Insurance in recognition of his position as England's most dependable cricketer.

Thorpe, who averaged 42 against the West Indies, is expected to bat at number five to accommodate new skipper Alec Stewart at number four in the first Cornhill Test against South Africa at Edgbaston.

Ultimate disappointment

Thorpe has put his personal award in perspective after 12 months of ultimate disappointment against Australia and the West Indies.

He said: "I can't say it's been a bad year for me, but it would all be so much better if I had been part of a winning England team.

Graham Thorp is England's most dependable player

"We have had some good victories, both against Australia last summer and in the West Indies, but we have got to start putting things together over a whole series.

"No, I'm not completely happy about things. We were so close to beating the West Indies, for instance, but ultimately you are judged on results and the fact is we lost that series 3-1.

"We have to find a bit of edge to our game. Hopefully, with Dominic Cork back to join up with Darren Gough and Angus Fraser, our bowling attack might just begin to give us that in this South Africa series."

Thorpe scored 339 runs in the Caribbean, following a tally of 453 against the Australians.

After 49 Tests he averages more than 42 and during last year also played two important innings as England beat Australia 3-0 in the Texaco Trophy besides producing a match winning 66 not out against West Indies in the final when England won the Champions' Trophy in Sharjah.

Back injury

His value to England's one day side was fully exposed by a back injury which caused him to miss the last four internationals against the West Indies at the end of the winter tour, and also last month's Texaco Trophy series against South Africa.

Adam Hollioake's team lost the first six of those seven games that Thorpe missed.

Thorpe said: "I'm fully mobile again now and there is no problem as far as my fitness for this opening Test against South Africa is concerned."

This year's judges included England coach David Lloyd and former Derbyshire and England wicketkeeper Bob Taylor.

David Lloyd said: "Graham is a world class batsman who would win a place in any World XI.