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."
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