England stronger with Thorpe

By Jonathan Agnew BBC cricket correspondent

You would be excused, after just one cursory glance at this squad, for wondering why it took so long to come up with this list of 13 names.

The selectors required at least 11 hours, and a delay of two days, to come to agreement. However, it is the recall of Graham Thorpe at number four that is the main reason for this.

It is not that he is not a capable batsman - of course not.

But having changed his mind so dramatically last year about committing himself to England, it is understandable that there has been some reluctance about trusting his word on this subject now.

Hussain's injury provided the path for Thorpe to return England squad: Thorpe in Feature: Thorpe's last chance

With England under the cosh, and his own performance as captain the subject of debate in the media, the last thing Michael Vaughan needs is a repeat of the shenanigans that so disrupted last winter's plans.

It is doubtful that Thorpe would have returned had Nasser Hussain not broken his toe at Headingley.

That would have squeezed out a young batsman and, whatever England's predicament, it is most important that one eye is kept on the future.

This will be a problem when the selectors sit down to choose their winter squads.

If Hussain and Thorpe are both included along with a young wicketkeeper to bat at number seven behind Flintoff, this would probably prevent Ed Smith, Robert Key or whoever the young player might be, from playing.

The fact is, though, that England are clearly a stronger team for Thorpe's presence, and that is really all that matters this week.

England are 2-1 down in the series and need, somehow, to force the pace at The Oval and take 20 wickets in order to win the game.

Bicknell hope

Frankly, on the evidence of the past year, I doubt if England have the firepower to do that although South Africa's top order has not fired in the last two Tests.

England will hope that Bicknell emerges from Sunday's match against Yorkshire unscathed, and that he is able to line up on Thursday.

He knows the Oval like the back of his hand, and has been hugely successful there.

More than likely, this will be his swansong after just two Tests but, if fully fit, he could be the man who wins the match for England.