Have you ever thought about the life of Graham Thorpe? He was an excellent cricketer who played for England and left an indelible mark in the game. In this article, we will tell you all about Graham Thorpe, his cricketing journey, his death, and everything in between. Join us as we share his story, from his glorious days on the field to the challenges he faced off it.
Birth, Parents, and Education
Graham Thorpe was born on August 1st 1969 in Farnham, Surrey England. His parents’ names were Geoff and Maggie Thorpe. Graham went to Woolmer Hill School in Haslemere Surrey where he began showing talent for cricket.
His early education and supportive family played a huge role in shaping his cricketing career.
Cricket Journey
Graham Thorpe embarked on a cricketing journey at a very young age. He made his first-class debut in Surrey in 1988. Within one season, his skills were full blown and he became a regular player for Surrey.
Thorpe’s international career began with making Test debut against Australia in 1993. Thorpe wasted no time making an impact as he scored a century on debut match.
He was known over years due to his steady batting and pressure handling skills. He went ahead to play one hundred Tests for England accumulating 6,744 runs with average of 44.66 runs per match.
Thorpe also played in 82 One Day Internationals (ODIs) for England, contributing significantly to the team. He was part of the England squad in the 1996 and 1999 World Cups.
Although there were ups and downs in career, he continued to play for England and remained a pivotal player during the late 90s and early 2000s.
Thorpe’s personal life was in shambles when he reached his milestone of scoring a double hundred against New Zealand in 2002. He managed to perform well on the field despite this.
He called it quits from international cricket in 2005 before getting involved in coaching as his new career. He had stints in some of the different teams which included New South Wales in Australia, Surrey and the national side upon coming back home
Memorable Innings
Graham Thorpe had many memorable innings during his cricket career. Here are some of the highlights:
- Century on Debut (1993): One of Thorpe’s best performances came during England’s Ashes series with Australia where he made a debut by scoring 114 runs.
- 200 Not Out Against New Zealand (2002): His greatest performance was arguably an undefeated two hundred against New Zealand, which established his highest test score at that time while personal problems were knocking at his doorsteps.
- 119 Not Out Against South Africa (1998): Thorpe played an important knock of 119 not out during the fourth Test match with South Africa which helped England to draw the match.
- 113 Against Pakistan (2001): During a game against Pakistan, Thorpe recorded 113 runs. England won that contest primarily due to his batting effort.
- 124 Against West Indies (2004): he scored 124 runs against the West Indies in a Test match that aided England winning the series.
Marriage & Children
Graham Thorpe is survived by his wife, Amanda, whom he married in 2007. They have a daughter born in 2005. Before marrying Amanda, Thorpe was married to his first wife Nicole.
The two got married back in 1995 but later divorced in 2002. They had a son and a daughter in 1996 and 1999, respectively, during their relationship. Amanda has an older daughter from a previous relationship as well.
Social Media Presence
His social media presence is insignificant. He wasn’t an athlete who seemed to have it all figured out on social media as many athletes do. Rather than interacting with his fans on the internet using platforms such as Twitter, Instagram, or Facebook, he prioritized his cricket pursuits and coaching hence there isn’t much information about him on social media.
Graham Thorpe Death
Graham Thorpe died on August 4, 2024. He was struck by a train at a railway station in Esher, Surrey. He was 55 years old. His family confirmed that Graham Thorpe died by suicide. He had been struggling with major depression and anxiety for several years.
Despite having a loving family, including his wife Amanda and their two daughters, Graham Thorpe’s mental health issues became overwhelming. His spouse said he had been very sick claiming that his children would be better off without him.
Sadly this has made him make up his mind to end it all in such a tragic manner. This tragic belief led to his decision to take his own life.
The news of Graham Thorpe’s death shocked the cricketing world. The demise of Graham Thorpe sent shockwaves throughout the world of cricket. Many of those who played alongside him as well as other mourners expressed their condolences for what he has done to the sport.
His family is now thinking of starting a charity organisation named after him that will help create awareness on mental health problems.
Bottom Line
Graham Thorpe died on August 4, 2024, leaving behind a legacy in cricket. His life was filled with great achievements and personal struggles. Graham Thorpe died by suicide, highlighting the importance of mental health. His story is a reminder that we need to rally behind those who are struggling with similar challenges as he did.
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