Graham Thorpe ended a year-long exile on Sunday when he was recalled to the England squad to face South Africa in the fifth and final Test at The Oval starting on Thursday.

The Surrey left-hander, who last played against India in July last year and who withdrew from last year's Ashes tour because of domestic problems, was called up after Nasser Hussain was ruled out after breaking a toe.

"It feels very good," Thorpe told BBC radio. "It's great to get an opportunity now and to be fit and firing. It's the last game and we need to do well in it.

"I don't really feel that I've got anything to lose by playing in this game."

The only other change to the team beaten at Headingley was the inclusion of off-spinner Gareth Batty in place of seamer James Kirtley, who is out with shin splints.

Thorpe is regarded as England's best batsman. The 34-year-old has played 77 Tests and averages 41.87. He has also played 82 one-dayers.

England, who trail 2-1 in the five-match series, have blooded a string of younger batsmen in his absence but without success.

The match will also be wicketkeeper-batsman Alec Stewart's last for England after a 14-year Test career which has seen him scored 8,425 runs, eighth in the all-time list.

England had been due to name their squad on Friday but delayed the announcement for 48 hours because of injury concerns.

Bowler Martin Bicknell was included in the squad, although he must undergo a fitness test on a hamstring problem.

England's pace attack has struggled throughout the series, with Andrew Caddick unavailable because of a back problem while Matthew Hoggard is still not fit following knee surgery.

South Africa, ranked second in the world, won the fourth Test at Headingley to take control of a series they have dominated from the outset.

Squad: Michael Vaughan (captain), Gareth Batty, Kabir Ali, James Anderson, Martin Bicknell, Graham Thorpe, Mark Butcher, Andrew Flintoff, Ashley Giles, Stephen Harmison, Ed Smith, Alec Stewart (wicketkeeper), Marcus Trescothick.