From his early days in Surrey to
his radiant international career, Graham Thorpe’s journey through cricket is
filled with achievements and milestones. His contributions to the sport, both
on and off the field, have left an indelible mark on the cricketing world. Graham
Thrope is Known for his impeccable technique and flexibility on the field. Thorpe
was also a promising footballer: he represented England Schools at under-18
level as a midfielder and had a trial at Brentford. But did not complete his
A-Levels and was unsure what he would do for a career until offered a two-year
contract by Surrey.
His career is a testament to the
prowess and dedication required to excel at the highest levels of the game. The
18-year-old left-handed middle-order batsman, made his first-class debut for
Surrey in 1988, against Leicestershire Batting at number eight he made scores
of 15 and 16 and claimed two wickets, his first wicket being that of David
Gower lbw. Thrope then became a regular in their side in the following season. Thorpe
had his most productive season of his career in 1992, gathering 1,895 runs at
an average of 51.21.
A stalwart of the side for over a
decade, the most complete England batsman since the Gooch-Gower era, Graham
Thorpe began his Test career in 1993 with an Ashes century - the first England
player in 20 years to score a hundred on debut - and repeated the accomplishment
on the return tour, in Perth in February 1995.
Usually operating as either
number four or five batsman, the left-hander’s last century came against South
Africa in Durban, in 2004. Graham Thrope played some of his best cricket as
England won a subcontinent series against Pakistan and Sri Lanka in 2000–01 and
he earned a reputation as the team's best player of spin.
According to Alec Stewart, Thorpe
adapted his batting method during the Pakistan tour from being a stroke-maker
to being a 'nudger and nurdler'. Mike Atherton rated Thorpe's Colombo century
in testing conditions as "one of the finest I ever saw from an England
player" despite a lack of fluent strokeplay. He described his technique as
akin to French cricket where he played the ball late, with a low backlift and
was able to use his wrists to place his shots past the fielders. Writing in
2011, David Gower ranked Thorpe as the second best English batsman from those
he had either played with or commentated on. He picked out his versality and
ability to play Muralitharan.
Thorpe was a batsman capable of
adapting to attack or defense depending on the match situation. He was
considered a counter-attacking batsman in the early stages of his international
career before evolving into a more 'pragmatic player of percentages'. In the
later years, Thorpe was not considered a powerful batsman but instead relied on
crisp stroke-play and skillful placement of shots.
In early 2002, Thorpe scored the third
fastest double century in Test history as he made his highest Test score of 200
not out against New Zealand. The innings came at a time when his marriage was
breaking down, and this led him to first retire from ODIs before taking a break
from cricket entirely. He returned for England after over a year out, scoring a
century at his home ground, The Oval. He was a member of the England side that
won a national record eight successive Tests in 2004, and the following year
made his 100th Test appearance. Thorpe retired from playing in 2005 after
non-selection for the Ashes and took up coaching positions with New South
Wales, Surrey, and England.
More than one of England’s
finest-ever batters, he was a beloved member of the cricket family and respected
by fans all over the world. His skill was unquestioned, and his abilities and
achievements across a 13-year international career brought happiness to his
teammates and England and Surrey supporters alike. Later, as a coach, he guided
the best England Men's talent to some incredible victories across all formats
of the game.
Thorpe’s early years were spent
polishing his skills on local grounds, and his potential was evident to all who
saw him play. His left-handed batting style was unique and set him apart from
his peers, marking the beginning of what would be a remarkable career.
Thorpe was named one of the
Wisden Cricketers of the Year in 1998, recognizing his exceptional
contributions to the sport. Thorpe played several crucial innings in the Ashes
series, often standing tall against a formidable Australian bowling attack. He
was involved in numerous record-breaking partnerships, showcasing his ability
to build and sustain innings in collaboration with other batsmen.
Graham Thorpe's career was not
without its challenges. He faced personal struggles, including mental health
issues and injuries, which at times affected his performance. Despite these
setbacks, Thorpe made several remarkable comebacks, displaying resilience and
determination. His ability to return to form after periods of absence was a
testament to his mental toughness and passion for the game.
Graham Thorpe's cricket career is
distinguished by impressive statistics across various formats. In Test cricket, he played 100
matches, scoring 6,744 runs at an average of 44.66, including 16 centuries and
39 half-centuries and 108 catches. In the ODI format, Thorpe participated
in 82 matches, amassing 2,380 runs with an average of 37.18, highlighted by 21
half-centuries and 37 catches.His performance in List A cricket was noteworthy
as well, with 354 matches played, 10,871 runs scored, an average of 39.67, including
9 centuries, 80 half-centuries, and 168 catches.Thorpe's First-Class cricket career
further showcased his talent, featuring in 354 matches where he scored 21,937
runs at an average of 45.04, including 49 centuries, 122 half-centuries and 290
catches. In 5 T20s he scored 95 runs @
23.75 with the best of 50, including 2 sixes.
These statistics highlight
Thorpe's consistent and prolific contribution to cricket across all formats. His condition remains private, his
diagnosis is unclear at this stage and we ask for privacy for him and his
family at this time. Our thoughts are with Graham and his family."