Graham Thorpe has been ruled out of the remainder of the series against India after being forced to return home due to "pressing matters of a personal nature". An England and Wales Cricket Board statement read: "The England team management announced that Graham Thorpe is to return to England and consequently will play no further part in the Test series with India.

"Pressing matters of a personal nature have arisen that required Graham's immediate attention.

"The team management request that Graham's privacy and that of his family be respected by all.

The ECB statement added that no replacement would be added to the squad. Michael Vaughan was took Thorpe's place in the England side for the second Test.

Thorpe's departure robs the already depleted England side of one of its remaining expereinced heads. With the exception of Nasser Hussain, who is making his 65th appearance, no-one else has 50 Tests to their name. Mark Ramprakash (48), Mark Butcher (34) and Craig White (23) are the only others to have played for England more than 20 times.

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