Thorpe sets sights for 100 Tests

100 TESTS FOR ENGLAND Alec Stewart: 133 Graham Gooch: 118 David Gower: 117 Michael Atherton: 115 Colin Cowdrey: 114 Geoffrey Boycott: 108 Ian Botham: 102 Graham Thorpe: 98

Graham Thorpe is ready to play the 100th Test of his career, which is due to come when England play Bangladesh in the second Test of the coming series.

The 35-year-old, who happens to be in patchy form for Surrey this season, would become the eighth England player to make a century of appearances.

Thorpe said: "I would love to play 100 Tests, that would be wonderful.

"I am never one to tempt fate or look to landmarks but I have an opportunity and it is in my own hands."

Since his recall against South Africa in the summer finale of 2003, the left-hander, arguably the best English batsman of his generation, has averaged 52.65 in 21 appearances for his country.

This term, he has one score of 59 and three single-figure scores in the County Championship, but he is inked in to play for England against Test cricket's newest nation and to bat at number five.

Thorpe is not tempting fate, however.

He said: "Life can be cruel and I might get injured but if I don't play any more Test matches so be it.

"I have had a fantastic ride playing international cricket and been privileged to have one more crack at it so feel very lucky whatever comes this summer."

I think I am best just playing every game as if it was my last

Realistically the Ashes battle later in the summer will be a fitting international swansong.

And there are suggestions from the man himself that he may hang up his boots at the end of it, 12 years after his debut against the same Australian opponents.

"It would not be fair to anybody, to myself or the teams I play in to look beyond this summer," he added.

"I think I am best just playing every game as if it was my last, that is pretty much how I have been playing since I got back into the international set-up.

"This summer I have not got a great deal to lose. It has been a pretty good journey in the past 18 months, probably the best period I have played for England."