Graham Thorpe Photo © CricInfo

The England selectors have been forced to make two additions to the England squad scheduled to leave for the short tour of Zimbabwe on Wednesday (26th September).

Leicestershire pace bowler James Ormond had already withdrawn in order to allow time for his injured knee to recover before the trip to India in November. He is suffering from patella tendonitis. Last week, Yorkshire all-rounder Craig White, whose season was severely hampered by injury, twisted his right knee in training and will also miss the trip.

Into the party come Yorkshire fast bowler Chris Silverwood and Graham Thorpe, the Surrey batsman who gets an early chance to return to international cricket having been left out of the original touring party. It was feared that he would need longer to recover from the broken bone in his hand sustained at Lord's in the Second Test against Australia, but he has now been deemed fit.

Silverwood for Ormond is a straight bowler for bowler replacement, whereas some questions might be asked about Thorpe's substitution for all-rounder White. However, chairman of selectors David Graveney said that there had been plans to utilise White's experience high in the order, where he has enjoyed considerable success for Yorkshire, and so this was an ideal opportunity to bring Thorpe back to add similar experience.

Thorpe himself was delighted with the news and is eager to take the chance to get back into the swing of cricket. Had he not gone on this trip he would have spent the time getting back to full fitness. In Zimbabwe he will be able to do that in far more meaningful circumstances with a bat in his hand.

England's other injury doubt, Andrew Flintoff, has convinced the management that he will be fit to take his place in the party. Extensive examinations have revealed that his injured right thumb is not broken and he proved his fitness by having a net at Lilleshall on Saturday, supervised by England's assistant coach for the tour, Tim Boon.

This gave an opportunity for Boon to confirm that Silverwood was fit as well. The Yorkshireman bowled at Flintoff, confirming that he has fully recovered from a rib problem that troubled him during the latter part of the season just passed.

The party is now back to a full-strength complement of 16 for the five one-day internationals and the warm-up match that precedes the serious part of the two and a half week itinerary.

© CricInfo Ltd