Former England cricketer and men's batting coach Graham Thorpe is in hospital after becoming "seriously ill".

The 52-year-old, who played 100 Test matches for England over 12 years, is being treated for an unknown illness and had recently accepted the job as head coach of Afghanistan.

England's Professional Cricketers' Association (PCA) made the announcement on Tuesday about the former batter's health. 

"Graham Thorpe has recently fallen seriously ill and is currently in hospital receiving treatment," they said.

"His prognosis is unclear at this stage and we ask for privacy for him and his family at this time. Our thoughts are with Graham and his family."

His former county team Surrey, where he spent his entire first-class career, wrote on Twitter their thoughts were with Thorpe and his family.

Thorpe made his Test match debut for England against Australia at Nottingham in 1993. 

After facing just 13 balls for six runs in his first innings, the left-hander announced himself with an unbeaten 114 in the second innings. 

He partnered with Graham Gooch in that innings for a partnership of 150 runs after they had fallen to 5-159.

The partnership helped England secure a draw.

Thorpe scored 6744 runs in his Test career with an average of 44.66.

Thorpe's highest Test score came in 2002 when he was man of the match in England's first Test against New Zealand in Christchurch. 

His 200 not out in the second innings set up a 98-run win for the visitors, who would go on to draw the three-match series 1-1.