Two weeks after convincing England's captain and selectors that he was ready for the Ashes tour, Graham Thorpe did a volte-face and ruled himself unavailable for the series. Thorpe, who was part of the 16-man squad selected the series, contacted David Graveney, chairman of selectors, and informed him of the decision. Graveney was sympathetic of Thorpe's move. "He has been honest and he feels he cannot do what he would want to do in a normal situation," he told BBC Radio. "I can't imagine what he has gone through in the last six months and obviously the situation might have changed from two weeks ago."

Thorpe's decision leaves a huge hole in England's middle order, and while there isn't an obvious candidate for the spot, Mark Ramprakash, Robert Key and Nick Knight would all be hoping for the call from the selectors.

Thorpe seemed eager to return to international cricket after staying away from the game for most of last season following the break-up of his marriage. "I feel the break has given me the chance to clear my mind and address the off-field issues which were there before. Everything is now more settled in my private life and I'm looking forward to playing cricket again."

The break did seem to have rejuvenated him – he made 143 in a county match for Surrey against Hampshire, and looked ready for international cricket again. But his latest move puts a question-mark on his future as an England player.

But today, in a statement issued by his county Surrey, Thorpe said: "I have informed the selectors that I wish to withdraw from the tour to Australia. During the six weeks away from the game my personal situation did improve and I felt that I was able to make myself available for the tour. Since returning to the game I have found it difficult to consistently concentrate on cricket and I must be totally focused for the tour.

"I therefore feel it is better to be honest with the England cricket team, the management, and myself now, rather than during the Ashes tour.It would be wrong for me to go to Australia purely for the financial gain that it would bring me whilst I am finding it difficult to fully focus on the job in hand 100% of the time.

"This has been the hardest decision of my cricket career. I ask that I may be given the respect and privacy required so that I may recover to play cricket at the highest level next season."

Steve Waugh, the Australian captain whose Ashes task has been eased by Thorpe's withdrawal, was sympathetic. "He's a class player and he has made a decision that's right for his family. You have to respect him for that," he said. "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."

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