England to Honour Graham Thorpe During Fifth Test at The Oval. Former England cricketer Graham Thorpe, who tragically passed away in 2024, will be honoured during the fifth Test match between England and India at The Oval, London, from July 31 to August 4.
August 1, which would have been Thorpe’s 56th birthday, will be observed as ‘Day for Thorpey’. The day will feature tributes to the late cricketer, including a theme based on his iconic headband, depicted in a mural outside The Oval.
The initiative is led by Thorpe’s wife and daughter in collaboration with mental health charity Mind. As part of the tribute, specially designed headbands will be sold to raise funds for mental health awareness and support.
Graham Thorpe: A Celebrated Career, A Legacy Remembered
Graham Thorpe represented England in 100 Test matches between 1993 and 2005, amassing 6,744 runs at an impressive average of 44.66. His career included 16 centuries and 39 fifties. In the ODI format, the elegant left-hander featured in 82 games, scoring 2,380 runs at an average of 37.19, with 21 half-centuries.
After retiring, Graham Thorpe transitioned into coaching and was a part of England’s support staff during the 2021–22 Ashes series. Tragically, he died by suicide in 2024 at the age of 55. His wife Amanda spoke to BBC Breakfast about their intention to honour his memory during an upcoming match.
“That day will be very powerful. We want to celebrate him and his memory. His light was so bright. He’ll go on,” Amanda said.
Thorpe’s daughter, Kitty, shared why the family is working with the mental health charity Mind.
“Death and grief aren’t discussed enough, even though they’re universal experiences. Suicide adds an even heavier layer of taboo. I know it’s hard to talk about – people fear saying the wrong thing. But silence doesn’t help end the stigma. We need to change how we approach this topic, and that’s why we’re partnering with Mind,” she explained.
Graham Thorpe: Meanwhile, on the field, England and India are set for a high-stakes fourth Test starting Wednesday, July 23, at Old Trafford in Manchester. With the hosts leading the five-match series 2-1, the match is a must-win for India to stay in contention for a series victory.
England spinner Shoaib Bashir has been ruled out for the rest of the series, with Liam Dawson named as his replacement. Meanwhile, for the visiting side, Nitish Kumar Reddy will miss the final two Tests due to a knee injury.
