During his career, Graham Thorpe played 100 Tests and 82 One-Day Internationals (ODIs) for England. He also served as England’s batting coach and assistant coach.
Former England cricketer and coach Graham Thorpe passed away on Monday at the age of 55, as announced by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB).
Thorpe’s career spanned from 1993 to 2005, during which he played 100 Tests and 82 One-Day Internationals (ODIs) for England. In Test cricket, he amassed 6,744 runs, including 16 centuries, with an average of 44.66. In ODIs, he scored 2,380 runs, featuring 21 fifties, at an average of 37.18.
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ECB paid tribute to Graham Thorpe
“It is with immense sadness that we announce the passing of Graham Thorpe, MBE. We are deeply shocked and heartbroken by his death. Graham was not just one of England’s finest cricketers but also a cherished member of the cricket community, admired by fans globally. Today, the cricket world grieves his loss. Our thoughts are with his wife Amanda, his children, his father Geoff, and all his family and friends during this incredibly difficult time,” read a statement from the ECB.
Thorpe also had a distinguished 17-year career with Surrey, making 241 first-class and 271 List A appearances, and scoring over 20,000 runs for the county.
Surrey’s chairman, Oli Slipper, paid tribute to Thorpe’s legacy, saying, “Graham is one of Surrey’s greats, and it is profoundly sad that he will not enter the Oval gates again. He is a Surrey legend, bringing immense pride to the club in both the Three Feathers and the Three Lions. His contributions as a cricketer and as a person will be deeply missed.”
Steve Elworthy, CEO of Surrey, added, “The Club is devastated by Graham’s passing. His remarkable achievements for both club and country made him a hero to many cricket fans.”
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Graham Thorpe also served as England’s batting coach and assistant coach, stepping down in February 2022 following a 4-0 Ashes defeat. He was appointed as Afghanistan’s head coach in March 2022 but was hospitalized with a serious illness before he could assume the role.