Graham Thorpe: The tragic story of England's star cricketer

Born for the crease

Born for the crease, The backbone of England’s middle order, Self‑imposed exile, An impressive comeback, Out for 100, Life after playing: brief stability, Mental health battles, A suicide that stunned cricket

England and Surrey batsman Graham Thorpe debuted for his country in 1993 with a sparkling 114 not out at Trent Bridge. His balance, timing, and steely calm made him an instant mainstay. Let's have a look at Thorpe's story, with info sourced from BBC News and the Guardian. 

The backbone of England’s middle order

Born for the crease, The backbone of England’s middle order, Self‑imposed exile, An impressive comeback, Out for 100, Life after playing: brief stability, Mental health battles, A suicide that stunned cricket

Thorpe amassed 6,744 Test runs across 100 matches, averaging 44.66, with a career record of 16 centuries and 39 half-centuries. Often England's crisis man, he carried the side through the turbulent 1990s and early 2000s.

Self‑imposed exile

Born for the crease, The backbone of England’s middle order, Self‑imposed exile, An impressive comeback, Out for 100, Life after playing: brief stability, Mental health battles, A suicide that stunned cricket

Amid mental health struggles, Thorpe withdrew from the 2002–03 Ashes. Although known as a quiet man, he did, nevertheless, on occasion clash with authority figures. 

An impressive comeback

Born for the crease, The backbone of England’s middle order, Self‑imposed exile, An impressive comeback, Out for 100, Life after playing: brief stability, Mental health battles, A suicide that stunned cricket

After a year or so out, Thorpe returned in 2004 at age 34. He scored 1,635 runs in 23 Tests post-comeback, helping England climb the ICC rankings. It was a remarkable return to form and consistency, well above his lifetime average.

Out for 100

Born for the crease, The backbone of England’s middle order, Self‑imposed exile, An impressive comeback, Out for 100, Life after playing: brief stability, Mental health battles, A suicide that stunned cricket

Despite strong form, Thorpe was dropped for the 2005 Ashes to make room for Kevin Pietersen. He never played for England again, ending on 100 Tests exactly. He also remains the only England player to have been involved in four Test batting partnerships with 250 runs or more. 

Life after playing: brief stability

Born for the crease, The backbone of England’s middle order, Self‑imposed exile, An impressive comeback, Out for 100, Life after playing: brief stability, Mental health battles, A suicide that stunned cricket

Now remarried, Thorpe turned to coaching, first with New South Wales and Surrey, before serving as England's batting coach. His experience and expertise was also called upon by the media, and he contributed to both the BBC and Sky Sports' cricket coverage. 

Mental health battles

Born for the crease, The backbone of England’s middle order, Self‑imposed exile, An impressive comeback, Out for 100, Life after playing: brief stability, Mental health battles, A suicide that stunned cricket

Thorpe suffered from severe depression and anxiety in the latter years of his life and was hospitalised in May 2022, after a suicide attempt.  The Professional Cricketers' Association issued a statement on behalf of his family saying he was ill, but without disclosing his condition.

A suicide that stunned cricket

Born for the crease, The backbone of England’s middle order, Self‑imposed exile, An impressive comeback, Out for 100, Life after playing: brief stability, Mental health battles, A suicide that stunned cricket

On August 4, 2024, Graham Thorpe stepped in front of a train at Esher railway station. He was 55 years old. His family subsequently revealed his mental health struggles, in an attempt to raise awareness. 

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