• Former England middle-order batter Graham Thorpe tragically passed away on Tuesday, August 5.

  • The entire cricket fraternity paid heartfelt tributes to the England legend.

Kumar Sangakkara to Ben Stokes: Cricket fraternity mourns Graham Thorpe’s tragic demise
Kumar Sangakkara, Graham Thorpe and Ben Stokes (Image Source: X)

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Former England middle-order batter Graham Thorpe has tragically passed away at the age of 55. The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) announced the news on Monday (August 5). Thorpe had been battling a serious illness since being appointed as Afghanistan‘s head coach in March 2022, a role he unfortunately could not take up due to his deteriorating health. The ECB’s statement reflected the deep shock and sadness felt across the cricketing world.

ECB’s tribute to Graham Thorpe

The ECB shared their heartfelt condolences via their official social media channels and website, describing Thorpe as one of England’s finest batters. “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. His skill was unquestioned, and his abilities and achievements across a 13-year international career brought so much happiness to his teammates and England and Surrey CCC supporters alike,” the ECB stated.

Coaching and legacy

The ECB also highlighted Thorpe’s  extraordinary skill, achievements, and his impact both as a player and coach. Beyond his playing career, Thorpe made significant contributions as a coach.

“Later, as a coach, he guided the best England Men’s talent to some incredible victories across all formats of the game,”

He worked with prominent players like Steve Smith and David Warner at New South Wales and served as England’s batting coach and assistant coach. Thorpe also took on the role of interim head coach for England during the COVID-affected summer of 2020 and the fourth Ashes Test in 2021-22. His potential role as Afghanistan’s head coach was cut short due to his illness.

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Personal and professional impact

The governing body’s statement read further in their official website on X that Thorpe’s passing has left a void in the cricketing community. His dedication to the sport, both as a player and a coach, earned him widespread respect and admiration. Thorpe’s technical brilliance and his contributions to cricket will be remembered fondly by fans, colleagues, and the cricketing world at large. They offered their deepest condolences go out to his wife Amanda, his children, father Geoff, and all his family and friends during this difficult time.

“The cricket world is in mourning today. Our hearts go out to his wife Amanda, his children, father Geoff, and all of his family and friends during this unimaginably difficult time. We will always remember Graham for his extraordinary contributions to the sport,”

Career highlights

Thorpe’s illustrious international career spanned from 1993 to 2005. He played 100 Tests for England, amassing 6,744 runs at an average of 44.66, including 16 centuries and 39 half-centuries. Thorpe made an impressive debut with a century in the third Test of the 1993 Ashes series against Australia, and he remains England’s 15th all-time leading run-scorer in Tests.

In One Day Internationals (ODIs), Thorpe scored 2,380 runs at an average of 37.18 in 82 matches, showcasing his prowess in the shorter format. His performance in the 1996 World Cup was particularly notable, with an average exceeding 54 across 11 matches. Thorpe also captained England in three ODIs during the 2001 series in Sri Lanka.

Here’s how cricket fraternity reacted:

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