Root was dismissed by Sri Lanka’s Milan Rathnayake on 143, but his knock managed to take the hosts to a good total of 358/7 at the end of the first day’s play.

“I’ve been very lucky to work with a lot of people, whether it be senior players, coaches, mentors, and Thorpey was one of those people who offered me so much,” said Root after scoring a century on Day 1.

“It was nice to be able to think of him (Thorpe) in that moment. He’s someone I’m sorely going to miss, and who I owe a lot to. He put a lot into my game, into my career, and without his help I definitely wouldn’t be where I am now,” Root added.

Root went down memory lane and recalled the influential role that Thorpe played in his international career.

“The first time I came across him was a second-team game at Stamford Bridge for Yorkshire against Surrey. The following year, I made my way into the County Championship team and he was involved with the England Lions. Before I’d even made a hundred at first-class level, he picked me for a Lions game against Sri Lanka at Scarborough,” Root recalled.

“He saw something with me, and pushed hard for me to go away that winter and worked with him. We worked tirelessly on my game against spin – being able to get close to the ball, get away from it, utilizing different sweeps – and also against pace… working very hard to make sure that those areas of the game which are different to county cricket, you are up to speed with,” Root added.

The post Joe Root dedicates 33rd Test ton to former mentor Graham Thorpe appeared first on Cricket Country.

Before the start of the game, both teams lined up on the outfield and paid their tribute to the legend.

Ollie pope spoke about Graham Thorpe and how theteam had reacted to him passing away, along with how the team will be wearing the black armbands the whole game to pay their respect to the cricketing legend.

“We’ll have our black armbands on throughout the course of the game and there’ll be a tribute to him. It hurt a lot of people in that changing room. He was a great man. I probably had two or three years playing with him as a batting coach. I really admired him. I remember him saying one thing to me, which was: ‘Never let the runs you’re scoring define you as a person’. In a bit of a rut when you’re young, that was exactly what I needed to hear. It shows, for me, what a people’s person he was. He was loved in the changing-room. He’s such a sad loss to everyone: to the country, his family and the boys as well. He’s missed, and we’ll honour him this week.” Said Ollie Pope.

The post Why England Players Had Black Armbands in ENG vs SL 1st Test? Details appeared first on Cricket Country.

Thorpe passed away on the morning of Sunday, August 4, as he suffered severe injuries during the incident at Esher railway station.

Simon Wickens, the area coroner in Surrey, had recorded Thorpe’s cause of death as one of several injuries sustained in the accident. He gave his condolences to ‘all those touched by Thorpe’s life and career’.

“Officers were called to Esher railway station at 8,26 am on August 4 to reports of a casualty on the tracks. Paramedics also attended, however sadly a person was pronounced dead at the scene,” the British Transport Police had earlier said.

Unfortunately, it wasn’t the first time Thorpe attempted suicide. Two years ago, when he was reported to be seriously ill, it was also because of a failed suicide attempt.

“Graham was renowned as someone who was very mentally strong on the field and he was in good physical health.” said Amanda in an interview.

“he was so unwell in the recent times and he did believe that we would be better off without him and we are devastated that he acted on that and took his own life,” she added.

(If you have any mental issues, or you know someone who does, please reach out to your nearest mental health specialist and seek professional help. Mental health is not a joke, please take it seriously)

The post Former England Cricketer Graham Thorpe Passed Away: Hit by Train- Enquiry appeared first on Cricket Country.

“Despite having a wife and two daughters whom he loved and who loved him, he did not get better,” said Amanda.

“He was so unwell in recent times and he really did believe that we would be better off without him and we are devastated that he acted on that and took his own life.”

In memory of Thorpe, a ceremony was held before the start of a match between the Fernham Cricket Club and Chipstead Cricket Club last Saturday. This ceremony was attended by his wife and both his daughters.

“For the past couple of years, Graham had been suffering from major depression and anxiety. This led him to make a serious attempt on his life in May 2022, which resulted in a prolonged stay in an intensive care unit,” said Amanda.

His wife revealed that Thorpe kept suffering even after having intense work pressure.

“Despite glimpses of hope and of the old Graham, he continued to suffer from depression and anxiety, which at times got very severe. We supported him as a family and he tried many, many treatments but unfortunately none of them really seemed to work,” she said.

Thorpe’s daughter Kitty said that he was not the same person after a certain point and he could just not see a way out of this.

“It was strange to see this person trapped in the body of Dad. That’s why we’ve been so happy that the many reflections have been about his life before this illness took over.”

(If you need support, or you know someone who might need some support, please do not ignore this and reach out to your nearest mental health specialist)

The post England’s Great Graham Thorpe Battle with Mental Health- ‘Took His Own Life’ appeared first on Cricket Country.

Graham Thorpe’s cricketing journey began in the domestic arena, where his performances for Surrey caught the attention of national selectors. His elegant stroke play and solid technique made him a standout player, earning him a place in the England team.

Thorpe’s international career spanned over a decade, during which he established himself as a vital component of the England batting lineup. His tenure was marked by several notable achievements:

1.Unbeaten 200 Against India (2002)

Date: July, 2002

Venue: The Oval, London

Details: Thorpe’s unbeaten 200 in the 2002 Test match against India is arguably his most celebrated achievement. This innings was a display of his technical mastery and concentration, helping England secure a series victory. It was a critical innings that highlighted Thorpe’s ability to perform in high-pressure situations and to anchor the innings effectively.

2.Fastest Test Fifty for England (1996)

Date: January, 1996

Venue: Johannesburg, South Africa

Details: Thorpe scored the fastest fifty by an Englishman at the time in Test cricket. His half-century came in just 49 balls, highlighting his ability to accelerate the scoring and put pressure on the opposition. This achievement underscored his versatility and adaptability in Test cricket.

3.Century in the 2000 NatWest Series Final

Date: July, 2000

Venue: Lord’s, London

Details: In the final of the NatWest Series against Australia, Thorpe scored a crucial 109 runs. His innings was instrumental in England’s successful chase of 246, which remains one of the most memorable ODIs in English cricket history. Thorpe’s century contributed significantly to England’s victory and the memorable scenes of the team lifting the trophy.

4.Consistent Test Career

Career Span: 1994-2005

Details: Thorpe scored over 6,700 runs in Test cricket at an average of 44.66, including 16 centuries. His consistency over more than a decade in international cricket, combined with his elegant batting style, made him one of England’s most reliable middle-order batsmen. His career achievements included significant innings across different conditions and opponents.

5.ODI Contributions and Centuries

Career Span: 1994-2005

Details: Thorpe accumulated over 4,400 runs in One Day Internationals, with an average of 37.67 and 8 centuries. His ability to contribute crucial runs in ODIs, including several match-winning innings, made him a key player in England’s limited-overs setup. His performances helped stabilize the middle order and provide valuable runs during tight matches.

After retiring from international cricket, Thorpe transitioned into coaching and mentoring roles. He served as a batting coach for various teams, including England, where he played a role in developing young talent and shaping future stars. His coaching career further demonstrated his deep understanding of the game and his commitment to nurturing the next generation of cricketers.

Graham Thorpe is remembered not only for his impressive statistics but also for the grace and skill he brought to the game. His career serves as an example of how stylish batting and consistent performances can define a cricketer’s legacy.

The post Who was England cricketer Graham Thorpe? (1969-2024) appeared first on Cricket Country.

Thorpe, who played a total of 100 Test matches for England and also went on to work as batting coach for the senior men’s team, was taken ‘seriously ill’ in 2022, shortly after being named as Afghanistan’s head coach.

“It is with great sadness that we share the news that Graham Thorpe, MBE, has passed away. There seem to be no appropriate words to describe the deep shock we feel at Graham’s death. More than one of England’s finest ever batters, he was a beloved member of the cricket family and revered by fans all over the world,” read an ECB statement.

Thorpe was a great left-handed batter, and right-handed bowler who played 82 one-day internationals for England. He played a further 189 first-class matches for Surrey and in all scored 49 first-class centuries, including 16 Test hundreds for England, at an average of 45.04 before his retirement in 2005. Thorpe scored over 9,000 runs in ODI’s and Tests combined for the Three Lions.

The post Former England cricketer Graham Thorpe dies at the age of 55 appeared first on Cricket Country.

Ahead of the game, Stokes won the hearts of fans by showing support to former England batter and assistant coach, Graham Thorpe, who is in hospital, in a critical condition. While walking out for the toss, Stokes wore the traditional Blue Blazer before taking it off to show the special jersey with Thorpe’s 564 imprinted on it.

“Everybody’s aware that Graham Thorpe is unfortunately very unwell at the moment in hospital,” said Stokes, after losing the toss.

“I’ve spoken with his wife, Amanda, and she’s been very grateful for the respect and privacy that her family have received, and she hopes that does continue.

“Me wearing this shirt on behalf of me and the team is our support to him, his wife, his kids and family during this tough time because we all love Thorpey and he means a hell of a lot to us.”

Ben Stokes shows his support for Graham Thorpe and pays tribute to Shane Warne ❤️ pic.twitter.com/a8Rv8pNHYQ

— Sky Sports Cricket (@SkyCricket) June 2, 2022

Stokes also paid tributes to his late father Ged, who passed away in 2020 after a long battle with Cancer. His training shoes featured Ged 500 and the familiar hand gesture where he bends his middle finger at the knuckle and raises it aloft in honour of the finger Ged lost during his rugby career.

Speaking about the late Shane Warne, Stokes said, “He’s a huge character of the game, one of the game’s legends and probably the greatest to grace the game. It’s a great honour to play a game in memory of Warney’s great man.”

The post ENG vs NZ: Ben Stokes’ Special Tribute To Ailing Graham Thorpe, Shane Warne Wins Hearts appeared first on Cricket Country.

Thorpe played 100 Tests for England between 1993 and 2005, averaging 44.66 with 16 centuries. The 52-year-old was recently announced as the new head coach of Afghanistan.

“Graham Thorpe has recently fallen seriously ill and is currently in hospital receiving treatment. 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,” a statement from the PCA, issued at the request of Thorpe’s family, read.

Thorpe also served as a batting coach for England between 2010 and 2022, stepping down in February 2022 following their 4-0 Ashes defeat by Australia.

“All of our thoughts are with Graham Thorpe and his family. We’re with you, Thorpey,” England Cricket tweeted.

Thorpe’s former county Surrey, where he spent the whole of his 17-year first-class career, also wished for Graham’s recovery.

“The thoughts of everyone at the Club are with Graham, his wife Amanda, and family at this time. He is an icon of the English game, known by millions of cricket fans and forever a favourite son of Surrey CCC,” Surrey Cricket Club said in a tweet.

Thorpe, who retired in 2005, went on to begin a coaching career in Australia, where he worked with the likes of Steve Smith and David Warner at New South Wales, before joining the England and Wales Cricket Board as a batting coach.

The post Former England Batter Graham Thorpe In Hospital After Falling ‘Seriously Ill’ appeared first on Cricket Country.

The Test series against the West Indies begins in North Sound, Antigua on March 8 and after a call is taken on Silverwood and Thorpe, the ECB will also announce the squad for the away matches.

The ECB board will likely go with the recommendations of former skipper Andre Strauss, who has been entrusted with the task of recommending how England can recover from one of their worst Ashes humiliations.

The recommendations of the 44-year-old Strauss, who attends the ECB’s board meetings in his role as Chair of the Cricket Committee but does not have voting rights, are expected to have a big say in the decision on Silverwood’s future and also the captaincy of Joe Root.

A report in the dailymail.co.uk said on Wednesday that “Stewart is under consideration to become an interim coach. And Strauss should turn now to a man who is the epitome of the professionalism and cricketing wisdom England so desperately need.”

The report added that Strauss could get sweeping powers given that the ECB board had chosen him to recommend ways to take England cricket forward. He could even return as a “kingmaker with the power to decide what and who comes next” and even decide what role he wants to play in England Test cricket’s revival.

The report said that the best things that could come out from this exercise was Strauss returning to the team director’s role, while Stewart becomes the interim coach for the tour of the West Indies and possibly the whole of the English summer.

This would also give Strauss enough time to “cast his net wider” and look at the coaching options available in the long term for England. Reportedly, Graham Ford, Gary Kirsten and even Australian head coach Justin Langer’s names have cropped up for the England job.

The post Chris Silverwood’s Future Hangs in Balance With Alec Stewart Keen to Take Over As England’s interim coach: Report appeared first on Cricket Country.

The 27-year-old Robinson, who made his Test debut against New Zealand on Wednesday, was embroiled in controversy, as a string of sexist and racist messages that he posted on Twitter from 2012-13 emerged over social media.

Commenting on the issue, Thorpe said more effort would be made at inspecting a player’s social media history in future to avoid such controversy.

“It’s clearly something that might need to be looked at so that a day like yesterday doesn’t happen,” Thorpe was quoted as saying by ‘BBC’.

Robinson has since apologised for the posts he wrote while he was a teenager.

“I am embarrassed by the racist and sexist tweets that I posted over eight years ago which have today become public.

“I want to make it clear that I’m not racist and I’m not sexist. I deeply regret my actions and I am ashamed of making such remarks,” Robinson said.

Thorpe added that speedster is aware of his mistake and has also apologised to the dressing room.

“In our dressing room we had to support him. It was a tough day for him yesterday. He had to say sorry to the dressing room and sorry to the world. From that perspective it was very hard for him, but he knows he’s made a mistake,” Thorpe said.

Robinson picked up four wickets in the first innings against New Zealand, giving 75 runs in 28 overs.

“For whatever he has done, it’s still not easy to go back out and perform. He showed good character and he had to be resilient. We were really pleased. His level of performance was exceptional,” said Thorpe.

The England and Wales Cricket Board is investigating Robinson’s actions.

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