Graham Thorpe, a former England and Surrey cricketer, has passed away at the age of 55. The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) expressed deep sorrow at Thorpe's passing.
In a statement, they said, "There seem to be no appropriate words to describe the deep shock we feel at Graham's death. More than one of England's finest-ever batters, he was a beloved member of the cricket family and revered by fans all over the world."
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Surrey chair Oli Slipper also paid tribute: "Graham is one of the great sons of Surrey and there is an overwhelming sadness that he will not walk through the gates of the Oval again. He is a legend of Surrey and brought great pride to the club."
How many matches did Graham Thorpe play for England?
Renowned for his skill and dedication, Thorpe played 100 Tests and scored 16 centuries before retiring in 2005. He had also played 82 ODIs and scored 21 fifties in a span of 1993-2002.
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Thorpe made his first-class debut for Surrey in 1988 and became a regular player in 1989. He debuted for England in 1993, scoring 114 against Australia at Trent Bridge. His unbeaten double-hundred against New Zealand in Christchurch in 2002 was a highlight of his career.
How long did Graham Thorpe coach England?
After retiring, Thorpe began a coaching career in Australia, working with players like Steve Smith and David Warner.
He joined the ECB as a batting coach and was appointed Afghanistan head coach in March 2022, but due to ill health, he could not take up the role. Overall, he served various coaching roles for England from 2010 to 2022.
"The cricket world is in mourning today. Our hearts go out to his wife Amanda, his children, father Geoff, and all of his family and friends during this unimaginably difficult time. We will always remember Graham for his extraordinary contributions to the sport." The ECB stated.