"It's important for us to remember that it doesn't all revolve around Muralitharan," said Thorpe, who had a break at home while the one-day matches were being played in Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. "Yes, Murali's a massive part of the challenge we face. But you cannot afford to under-estimate their other bowlers."
Chaminda Vaas is the name that instantly springs to Thorpe's lips - and with good reason. The classy fast bowler took two more wickets than Murali when England were last here. "Then they will have a couple more spinners for us to think about, plus another seamer or two," added Thorpe. "They've got a wellbalanced attack."
Most important, though, Thorpe is in the groove again mentally with his personal life settled after a broken marriage. Murali, of course, will do everything possible to upset Thorpe's equilibrium as a cricketer while tormenting those before and after him in the order.
"The First Test is crucial for all the batsmen," said
Thorpe when pressed on the Muralitharan threat.
"You need to try to get used to playing against Murali again. Your first 20 minutes to half an hour is vital."
England usually field their intended Test side in the last match before a new series begins. But Marcus Trescothick, captain Michael Vaughan and wicketkeeper Chris Read could be rested tomorrow, while recalled spinner Robert Croft should get the chance to push his claims for a Test spot.
England team: Hussain, Butcher, Thorpe, Collinwood, Flintoff (capt), Jones or Read (wkt), Batty, Croft, Giles, Kirtley, Hoggard.
