GRAHAM THORPE – THE FIGHTER WHO WENT AWAY TOO SOON

Graham Thorpe was arguably the best batsman of his generation- here he is celebrating a special hundred at Perth on 1994-95 Ashes Tour - 5th February 1995

The morning of 5^th August 2024 brought the news of the death of one of England’s finest batsmen ever – Graham Thorpe. Thorpe who was England’s best batsman for almost a decade, passed away at the age of 55 after a prolonged illness

It was Sunday, November 27th, 1994; England had commenced another Ashes series disastrously at the Gabba in Brisbane. Trailing by 443 runs as Australia concluded the day at 194-7, an overwhelming defeat seemed inevitable. It was my first ever Ashes Test and as a young fan of English cricket, it was painful to watch your team going down without a fight.

The following day, Mark Taylor's men established an improbable target of 508 runs for England. With both senior openers, Atherton and Stewart, dismissed and the score languishing at 59-2, an ignominious defeat loomed large for the English side.It was here that I was introduced to Graham Thorpe, a resolute southpaw whose tenacity and unwavering determination were emblematic of his character. He embodied a gritty resilience, refusing to capitulate against one of the world's most formidable teams on their home turf.

Graham Thorpe was fine team man , here with Devon Malcom on 1994-95 Ashes tour

Thorpe and Hick battled tenaciously, bringing England to a formidable 211-2 by the close of the fourth day. Though 297 runs remained to achieve victory, their valiant efforts infused hope and set the stage for a potential historic triumph on the fifth day. Regrettably, England crumbled to 112-8 on the final day, with Thorpe succumbing to a masterful delivery from Warne after a well-crafted 67. For me, however, this match marked the inception of my passionate journey as an English cricket fan and admiration for Thorpe's prowess over the next decade.

Born in Farnham, Surrey on August 1, 1969 (a serendipitous coincidence as we share the same birthday), he made his First-Class debut for Surrey against Leicestershire in June 1988. Five years later, he marked his Test debut against Australia in the summer of 1993 with an impressive century. On his maiden Ashes tour, he amassed 444 runs across five Tests at an average of 49.33, including a memorable century at the WACA in Perth.

Thorpe in action during his century at WACA -5th February 1995

In the Wisden Trophy later that year, he amassed 506 runs at an average of 42.16. Thorpe consistently rose to the occasion, particularly against the formidable bowling attacks of his era: Australia, Pakistan, and the West Indies. Facing Australia, which featured legends like Shane Warne, Glenn McGrath, Craig McDermott, Jason Gillespie, and Brett Lee, he scored 1,235 runs in 16 Tests at an average of 45.74. Against Pakistan, he averaged 51.61 across 8 Tests, and against the West Indies, he accumulated 1,740 runs in 27 Tests at an average of 42.43.

Thorpe transcended mere statistics; he was a tenacious competitor, a masterful craftsman, and arguably the finest batsman of his era. This sentiment is echoed by numerous experts and teammates, who regard him as the premier English batsman from 1995 to 2005, a period following Gooch's tenure until Thorpe's retirement.

Some of his innings stood as a profound testament to Thorpe’s indomitable character, notably his unbeaten 64 in the dwindling light at Karachi, which secured a historic victory for England. Just months later, he was pivotal in one of England's most celebrated series triumphs in modern history—a 2-1 conquest on Sri Lankan soil. Thorpe amassed 269 runs at an impressive average of 67.25 in a series predominantly governed by the bowlers. His century (113*) in the final Test at the Sinhalese Sports Club (SSC) is arguably his magnum opus. His unbeaten 32 in the second innings assured that England navigated a modest target of 74 with aplomb.

His century in the third and final test could be termed as his greatest - Sri Lanka tour -17th March 2001

While Thorpe enjoyed considerable success during the 2000-01 seasons, it was also the period when his marriage began to unravel. Thorpe met his first wife, Nicky, an air hostess, in 1995; their immediate and intense romance culminated in marriage that September. The couple welcomed a son in November 1996 and a daughter in April 1999. However, the demands of prolonged and gruelling tours kept them apart for extended periods. Compounded by Thorpe’s admission of infidelity on seven occasions, their relationship deteriorated, leading to their separation in 2002. Thorpe subsequently married Amanda in 2005, finding the stability he had long sought.

In 2003, Thorpe returned in the final test against South Africa, an opposition against whom he had found run making very difficult. But this time he made remarkable century, a 100 which helped England to bounce back and square the series by 2-2.

Thorpe was close to Darren Gough, Michael Atherton - here in ODI series against West Indies 1995

By the summer of 2005, Thorpe was acutely aware that he was nearing the denouement of his illustrious career. Harboring a fervent aspiration to participate in the home Ashes series, he was nonetheless eclipsed by the meteoric rise of the prodigious Kevin Pietersen. The second Test against Bangladesh at Chester-le-Street transpired as his 100th and final Test. By the end of August 2005, Thorpe resolved to terminate his professional tenure as a cricketer, concluding his engagements with both England and Surrey within the same month.

Thorpe with his first wife (1995-2001)

After retirement, Thorpe embarked on a rigorous coaching career, undertaking a brief but impactful tenure with the English cricket team.

However, Thorpe battled a debilitating illness, the severity of which became publicly known in 2022. His death is a profound tragedy, steeped in irony—the cricketer, hailed as the most mentally resilient of his generation, ultimately succumbed to suicide, unable to withstand the overwhelming mental anguish that plagued him.

Thorpe's Career in pictures