Vaughan wants Thorpe to stay on

Thorpe's experience could be vital for the Ashes

England captain Michael Vaughan has backed Graham Thorpe to play his 100th Test against Bangladesh from Friday.

Thorpe announced last week he would be playing and coaching in New South Wales from January, fuelling speculation he will retire after the Ashes.

But Vaughan said: "I just want the best England team and probably at the moment Graham Thorpe is in that XI."

Ashley Giles, who missed the first Test with a hip injury, will have his fitness reassessed this week.

He's brought a lot to a relatively young team Vaughan on Thorpe

Fellow spinner Gareth Batty is likely to retain his place if Giles is ruled out.

If Thorpe, 36 in August, keeps his place it would be a further blow to Kevin Pietersen, whose county form has improved since he missed out on selection for Lord's.

But left-hander Thorpe, who made an unbeaten 42 against Bangladesh, could provide valuable experience later in the summer as he has scored 1235 runs in 16 Ashes Tests.

"There are still six Test matches to play and I'm sure they are six Test matches he'll want to be available for," Vaughan added.

"It's now down to the selectors to decide if they feel he's good enough to get in the England team."

Chief of selectors David Graveney will announce the squad for the match, at Durham's Riverside ground, on Tuesday morning with few changes expected.

England's victory in the first Test was completed so quickly on day three that England coach Duncan Fletcher gave his side an hour's fielding practice before they departed.

Batty, who did not bowl in the match, was the only player not given a rest from Monday's county matches in the Totesport League.