Graham Thorpe is the finest batsmen produced by this country in a generation. At the vanguard of world cricket for nearly 12 years, during which he reached a landmark century of Test caps, Thorpe played countless match-winning innings in both Test and one-day arenas, and helped transform England from also-rans to the battle-hardened, all-conquering team of today.

Not long ago, however, the national press were labelling him 'English cricket' most disturbed player': he had broken ranks by opting out of tours for family reasons, had several run-ins with the England management, and in 2001 returned early from India in a futile effort to save an already ruined marriage.

The following summer Thorpe was accused of betraying his country when he retired from international one-day cricket and then dropped out of cricket altogether, his personal problems plunging him towards a mental breakdown fuelled by alcohol and anti-depressants. He tried to make a comeback but it lasted less than a fortnight. The door to his Test career had, it seemed, been closed forever.

With startling frankness Thorpe dissects his career in cricket and the inner recesses of his private life: the impact of his bitter divorce; the suicidal depression; how the death of Ben Hollioake pushed him towards religion; how his comeback Test century at the Oval in 2003 resurrected his life and career; his fresh outlook with a new partner and child and as a supporter of the Fathers 4 Justice campaign.

He goes on to give a forthright account of how his controversial non-selection for the 2005 Ashes series forced his immediate retirement from international cricket. Hero of villain? Thorpe's compelling account of his life goes a long way towards unravelling the mysteries of one of the most enigmatic cricketers of recent times.