Cricket Mourns the Loss of Graham Thorpe, Legendary England Batsman

Graham Thorpe, former England and Surrey cricketer, has passed away at the age of 55 after battling a serious illness since 2022. Thorpe, revered for his batting prowess, played 100 Tests and 82 ODIs for England. He also had a successful coaching career, impacting players like Steve Smith and David Warner.

Graham Thorpe, the esteemed former England and Surrey cricketer, has died at the age of 55 after battling a serious illness since 2022, the country's cricket board confirmed on Monday.

Known as one of the finest batters of his era, Thorpe was hospitalized shortly after being named the head coach of Afghanistan in 2022, though details of his medical condition were never disclosed.

Thorpe leaves behind his wife Amanda and four children: Henry, Amelia, Kitty, and Emma.

In a statement, the ECB expressed profound sorrow over Thorpe's death, calling him not only one of England's most extraordinary batters but also a cherished member of the cricketing family worldwide.

Upon starting his Test career in 1993, Thorpe made an indelible mark with a century during an Ashes series. The left-handed batter was pivotal in England's series wins in Pakistan and Sri Lanka during the 2000-01 season.

Over his illustrious career, he played 100 Tests between 1993 and 2005, averaging 44.66 with 16 centuries. Additionally, he played 82 ODIs, amassing 2830 runs at an average of 37.18.

Thorpe's contributions were equally noteworthy at the county level, where he played for Surrey for 17 years and scored nearly 20,000 runs.

Surrey CCC Chair, Oli Slipper, highlighted Thorpe's immense contributions to the club both on and off the field, expressing deep sorrow at his passing.

After his playing career, Thorpe transitioned seamlessly into coaching, initially in Australia and later with the England national team as a batting coach. Despite being axed following England's 0-4 Ashes defeat in 2021-22, he was appointed the head coach of Afghanistan in March 2022 but fell ill before assuming the role.

The Professional Cricketers' Association had earlier stated Thorpe was seriously ill and receiving hospital treatment, requesting privacy for his family.