Thorpe's chance to seal Test place

Graham Thorpe has two championship matches to end any doubts about his right to a place in England's middle order this summer.

The 35-year-old Surrey left-hander started the season as red-hot favourite to continue in his No5 spot for the two Tests against Bangladesh and on into the Ashes series in July.

But Thorpe has not yet set county cricket alight while centuries by Ian Bell and Rob Key, plus the excitement over Kevin Pietersen's potentially devastating batting, have combined to create some healthy competition. There could be more to come, too, because Mark Butcher, Thorpe's new county captain, should soon recover from his wrist injury and will be pushing hard to win back his England place.

Thorpe, though, has the home championship matches against Nottinghamshire (starting today) and Glamorgan (next Wednesday) to remind the selectors of what he is about before they meet to pick their first Test squad of the summer. Three first-class innings to date have brought him only 69 runs

England captain Michael Vaughan said this week: "It's important you feel right and have got your rhythm."

One player who hasn't is England opener Andrew Strauss, who has made just 56 runs in four championship knocks for Middlesex.