The Surrey left-hander is unquestionably England's most important batsman - the only one in the current line-up to average over 40 in Test cricket.
After playing in only one of last summer's Ashes Tests because of injury, Thorpe returned home after only one match of the winter series in India because of family problems.
Having lost in Mohali, his absence was undoubtedly a factor in England's inability to get back on level terms, but he made up for lost time in New Zealand by achieving his first double century in the first test at Christchurch.
Thorpe made the Kiwis pay for dropping him early in his innings by hitting four sixes and 28 fours in his 200 not out, and also played an important advisory role in helping partner Andrew Flintoff reach his maiden Test hundred.
Thorpe can be relied on to keep the scoreboard ticking over in either Test and one-day cricket and will relish the chance to take on Sri Lanka again this summer, having made an unbeaten 113 in England's victory in Colombo a year ago.
