Editing Graham Thorpe (section)

===1997===
At the end of the Zimbabwe tour in 1996–97, England travelled on to New Zealand. In the first Test at [[Eden Park|Auckland]], Thorpe was struck by a bouncer from [[Chris Cairns]] and been at fault for a run out of [[John Crawley]] before going on to make 119, ending his wait for a third Test century.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Lee |first1=Alan |title=Settled Stewart keeps confounding the critics |url=https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info%3Asid/infoweb.newsbank.com&svc_dat=AWNB&req_dat=1054640702C8DBC0&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi/fmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=document_id%3Anews%252F0F924B9497C9D61F |access-date=20 November 2023 |work=The Times |via=Newsbank |url-access=subscription |date=27 January 1997}}</ref> He made it consecutive hundreds at [[Basin Reserve|Wellington]] as he scored 108, sharing century partnerships with [[Nasser Hussain]] and Crawley in the process.<ref>{{cite book |chapter-url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/wisdenalmanack/content/story/153305.html |chapter=New Zealand v England, Second Test Match |access-date=25 November 2023 |year=1998 |title=Wisden Cricketers' Almanack}}</ref>

Australia toured England in 1997 and ahead of the Ashes played three ODIs. England won all three matches with six wickets being the margin of victory on each occasion, Thorpe was unbeaten in the first and third match run chases with scores of 75 and 45.<ref name="odisinn"/>

The first Test of the Ashes took place at Edgbaston, England dismissed Australia for 118 and were 50/3 in reply when Thorpe joined Hussain at the crease. The pair batted through to the close adding 150 in 169 minutes with ''Wisden'' stating that Thorpe's "cutting and sweeping of Warne were crucial in seizing the initiative".<ref name="edgbaston97">{{cite book |last1=Etheridge |first1=John |chapter-url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/wisdenalmanack/content/story/153296.html |chapter=England v Australia, First Cornhill Test |access-date=21 November 2023 |year=1998 |title=Wisden Cricketers' Almanack}}</ref> On the second morning Thorpe reached his third Test century in four Tests as the stand contributed a further 135 in the pre-lunch session.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Lee |first1=Alan |title=Hussain prolongs Australia's agony |url=https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info%3Asid/infoweb.newsbank.com&svc_dat=AWNB&req_dat=1054640702C8DBC0&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi/fmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=document_id%3Anews%252F0F924C2EF7EB689D |access-date=21 November 2023 |work=The Times |via=Newsbank |url-access=subscription |date=7 June 1997}}</ref> He was dismissed to [[Glenn McGrath]]'s first ball after lunch for 138, a Test best score at the time.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Pringle |first1=Derek |title=Hussain the hammer of the Aussies |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/cricket-hussain-the-hammer-of-the-aussies-1254679.html |access-date=2 April 2024 |work=The Independent |date=6 June 1997}}</ref> The partnership of 288 with Hussain was the highest for England against Australia for the fourth wicket.<ref name="edgbaston97"/> England won the match by nine wickets but Australia fought back by dismissing England for 77 in the drawn second Test and winning the third comfortably.

In the fourth Test at Headingley, Australia were 50/3 in their first innings when Thorpe dropped a routine [[fielding (cricket)|first slip]] catch from [[Matthew Elliott (cricketer)|Matthew Elliott]] off the bowling of debutant [[Mike Smith (cricketer, born 1967)|Mike Smith]]. Smith would never take a Test wicket while Elliott, who was on 29 at the time, would go on to score 199 as Australia won the match by an innings. Having failed to pass 30 in six innings since the first Test there were calls for Thorpe to lose his place in the team,<ref name="coty"/><ref>{{cite news |last1=Lee |first1=Alan |title=England debate centres on Thorpe |url=https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info%3Asid/infoweb.newsbank.com&svc_dat=AWNB&req_dat=1054640702C8DBC0&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi/fmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=document_id%3Anews%252F0F924C73A5777B38 |access-date=24 November 2023 |work=The Times |via=Newsbank |url-access=subscription |date=2 August 1997}}</ref> but he was retained by the selectors. In the fifth Test he scored 53 and 82 not out,<ref name="testinn"/> the latter innings played as wickets were falling at the other end with six of his partners contributing just 14 whilst he added 68.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Johnson |first1=Peter |chapter-url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/wisdenalmanack/content/story/153300.html |chapter=England v Australia, Fifth Cornhill Test |access-date=24 November 2023 |year=1998 |title=Wisden Cricketers' Almanack}}</ref> Australia won the series by winning the match but England were victorious the sixth Test at The Oval. In a low-scoring match, Thorpe made the only half-century of the game with ''Wisden'' describing it as "an innings of exceptional quality and tenacity".<ref>{{cite book |last1=Engel |first1=Matthew |chapter-url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/wisdenalmanack/content/story/153301.html |chapter=England v Australia, Sixth Cornhill Test |access-date=24 November 2023 |year=1998 |title=Wisden Cricketers' Almanack}}</ref> He ended the series as England's top run-scorer with 453 at 50.33,<ref>{{cite web |title=The Ashes 1997 – England averages |url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/records/series/averages-batting-bowling-by-team/the-ashes-1997-386?team=1 |website=ESPNcricinfo |access-date=24 November 2023}}</ref> and was chosen as their player of the series.<ref>{{cite web |title=England v Australia, 6th Test, The Oval, August 21 – 23, 1997 |url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/australia-tour-of-england-and-scotland-1997-61346/england-vs-australia-6th-test-63759/full-scorecard |website=ESPNcricinfo |access-date=24 November 2023}}</ref>

Thorpe ended the season with a double-century for Surrey against County Championship leaders Glamorgan, batting for 438 minutes in making a then career best score of 222.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Wilde |first1=Simon |title=Glamorgan give up the chase |url=https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info%3Asid/infoweb.newsbank.com&svc_dat=AWNB&req_dat=1054640702C8DBC0&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi/fmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=document_id%3Anews%252F0F924C991F34AF4D |access-date=24 November 2023 |work=The Times |via=Newsbank |url-access=subscription |date=6 September 1997}}</ref> Earlier in the campaign he featured in Surrey's [[1997 Benson & Hedges Cup|Benson & Hedges Cup]] victory over [[Kent County Cricket Club|Kent]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Kent v Surrey, Lord's, 12 July 1997 |url=https://www.cricketarchive.com/Surrey/Scorecards/64/64295.html |website=CricketArchive |access-date=24 November 2023}}</ref> For his performances during the [[1997 English cricket season]] he was selected as one of the [[Wisden Cricketers of the Year]] in its 1998 edition of the ''[[Wisden Cricketers' Almanack|Almanack]]''.<ref name="coty"/>

In December 1997, England won a four-team [[1997–98 Singer Akai Champions Trophy|ODI tournament]] in [[Sharjah Cricket Stadium|Sharjah]], Thorpe was named man of the match in the final after he scored an unbeaten 66 to guide England to a three-wicket victory over the West Indies.<ref>{{cite web |title=England v West Indies, Final (D/N), Sharjah, December 19, 1997 |url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/akai-singer-champions-trophy-1997-98-61016/england-vs-west-indies-final-65879/match-news |website=ESPNcricinfo |access-date=24 November 2023}}</ref>