LONDON - England looked set to start life without Graham Thorpe sooner rather than later after his county side Surrey said the class batsman was "extremely unlikely" to play again this season.

Thorpe, 33, decided to take an indefinite break from all cricket after England's first Test victory over India at Lord's in July.

His move was prompted by the break-up of his marriage and discussions about access arrangements to his young children, Henry, 5 and Amelia, 3.

However, England hoped that the left-handed middle-order batsman would return before the end of the season to press his claims for selection in the 2002-2003 Ashes series in Australia.

But given that England coach Duncan Fletcher had said that Thorpe can't be picked "out of the blue", his chances of selection now appear to be hanging by a thread.

Earlier this season Thorpe announced his retirement from international one-day cricket in a bid, he said, to ease his personal problems and prolong his Test career.

Then came the announcement of his break from all forms of the game.

The news that he will not be playing again this season is sure to intensify speculation over his international future.

Even those who question his commitment to the England cause cannot dispute his record on the field.

In an era where Australia has dominated Ashes Tests (England's last series victory was back in 1986-87), Thorpe has still averaged over 45 against them.

Thorpe, capped 77 times by England, has repeatedly proved himself as a big-match performer, scoring the second-fastest Test double hundred against New Zealand in Christchurch in March.

But, thanks to a combination of both personal and back problems, Thorpe has only completed one full touring program out of the past five.

He now faces the prospect of losing out on one of the new annual England central contracts worth STG200,000 ($A574,000) which are due to be given to 16 players at the end of the current domestic season.

Australia captain Steve Waugh, in England as Kent's replacement overseas player for the rest of the season, paid tribute to Thorpe.

"He's a class player and he has made a decision that's right for his family," he said.

"You have to respect him for that. It's a courageous decision when you are playing for your country and he wouldn't have made it lightly.

"I just hope he comes back and plays Test cricket or one-day cricket again."

© 2002 AAP

This report does not necessarily represent the views of the Australian Cricket Board.