Thorpe quits tour amid 'family crisis'

England cricketer Graham Thorpe is today quitting the tour of India and flying home for "personal reasons" - sparking speculation about the reason for his sudden departure.

Only two years ago Thorpe pulled out of a tour of South Africa citing family reasons, and was previously accused of cheating on his wife Nicky during a tour of New Zealand - the next stop on England's current schedule. The Surrey batsman strongly denied those allegations. He is expected to arrive at Heathrow later today to deal with "private matters", said the tour managers. They decided last night, on the eve of the Second Test, to release him from the final fortnight of the six-week tour.

An England and Wales Cricket Board statement cited "pressing matters of a personal nature" needing Thorpe's "immediate attention", adding a request that "Graham's privacy and that of his family be respected".

Selectors' chairman David Graveney refused to reveal why the key middle-order batsman had quit early, adding: "As regards forthcoming tours we will give him the maximum amount of support and time during what must be a very difficult time for him."

Four years ago Thorpe angrily denied cheating on his wife of 18 months in New Zealand with 20-year-old Olivia Martin. Speculation is rife in the England camp that Mrs Thorpe was not happy with the idea of her husband returning to the scene of the allegations.

In 1999 Thorpe made himself unavailable to tour South Africa, citing concerns about being away from his wife and their children, Henry, then aged two, and Amelia, then six months.