The 33-year-old batsman excluded himself from all cricket after England completed the 170-run first Test win over India at Lord's on July 29 - a fortnight after he retired from the one-day international scene.

Both decisions were taken in order to sort out his personal life. He has recently been through a divorce from wife Nicky and has made spending time with his two young children Henry and Amelia his main priority.

It was hoped the left-hander would return before the end of the summer to push his claims for inclusion on the Australian tour, but following a meeting with Surrey chief executive Paul Sheldon that no longer appears an option.

A Surrey spokesman said: "It's extremely unlikely that Graham will play for Surrey again this season.

"The club have been very supportive of him during this difficult time and have no doubt he will return from this break reinvigorated and ready for next season."

Rated by the Australians as England's best player, a 12-month central contract and a place on tour this winter are now far from certain.

For Thorpe, a top-band earner in the England contract scheme, there could also be serious financial implications with the annual deal likely to be worth between £150,000-£200,000.

Upon taking the break, Thorpe said: "I am fully aware of the consequences as far as my England Test place is concerned.

"This will create an opportunity for another player to come into the team and I have had to balance that possibility against the needs of my family."

Thorpe's 77-Test England career has been fragmented since his debut in 1993.

He returned from tours of South Africa and Australia with injuries, in 1995-96 and 1998-99 respectively, and then opted out of the 1999-2000 tour to South Africa.

Thorpe was undoubtedly Nasser Hussain's side's top performer in Pakistan and Sri Lanka the following winter, before a calf injury and a broken finger curtailed his presence last summer.

Then, in India last December, he left the tour on the eve of the second Test at Ahmedabad because of his marital problems.

Things appeared on the up when he scored the second-fastest double century in Test cricket history in New Zealand in March and added an 11th century against Sri Lanka at Edgbaston.

The Ashes party is due to be announced either before or after the final Test against India at The Oval - starting on September 5.