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Thorpe axe a mistake
Former Australia fast bowler Dave Gilbert believes England have made a mistake in leaving Graham Thorpe out of their team for the Ashes series.
Gilbert, now the chief executive officer of Cricket New South Wales, thinks that the veteran Surrey left-hander would have made a difference at Lord's, where England were beaten by 239 runs in the First Test.
"They definitely erred leaving Thorpey out," said Gilbert.
"Thorpe has been England's best batsman of the past decade and deserved one last chance against the old enemy.
"Five of the top seven players in the England batting line-up had never played against Australia before.
"They were a very inexperienced side and at that level, against Australia, you certainly need tried and tested batsmen.
"They took their eye off the ball and paid for it dearly at Lord's."
Thorpe played exactly 100 Tests before being left out of the squad for the Lord's encounter and subsequently announced his retirement from international cricket as a consequence.
