Media365
Day 2 of the fifth Test between England and India at The Oval saw a powerful and moving tribute to the late Graham Thorpe. As the players walked off for tea, the entire stadium rose for a standing ovation in memory of the former England batter, who tragically died by suicide last year at the age of 55. England Cricket shared the emotional video on X (formerly Twitter), showing players and fans applauding in unison. The team wore special headbands throughout the day, co-designed with Thorpe’s family, in honour of his iconic batting look. The tribute, called A Day for Thorpey, also served as a fundraiser for mental health charity Mind. His wife Amanda and daughter Emma were present to ring the bell ahead of the second day’s play. England Cricket confirmed that over £100,000 has been raised through the campaign so far. “Thank you to everybody who has supported,” they wrote on X.
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Thorpe, who made his international debut in 1993, played 100 Tests and was a pillar of England’s batting through the 90s and early 2000s. He scored 6,744 Test runs at an average of 44.66, including 16 centuries. In ODIs, he made 2,380 runs and was known for his grit and calm under pressure. Beyond his playing days, Thorpe shaped England’s next generation as a coach with both the England Lions and senior team. Players like Joe Root and Ben Stokes often credit him for his influence on their careers. The gesture at The Oval was a fitting tribute to a man who gave so much to English cricket.
