Ben Stokes is to pay tribute to Graham Thorpe at this week’s fifth Test against India at the Oval. Thorpe, who battled with depression and anxiety for years, died on August 4 2024. Police confirmed his death after an incident near his home.
The left handed batsman played his entire career with Surrey, in south London. In 100 matches from 1993 to 2005 he scored 6,744 Test runs at 44.66. Later he became a coach and even England’s batting coach. He coached current players like Test captain Stokes and Joe Root.
Friday August 1 will be A Day for Thorpey to support the mental health charity Mind. It would have been his 56th birthday.
Stokes said at the Oval on Wednesday “Thorpey” was very important as a player and coach in English cricket. He said some of the lads in the dressing room spent a lot of time with him as they came up through the ranks.
Stokes will miss the game with a shoulder injury. He said it will be a special day for all English fans and for Thorpe’s family to see how much he meant to English cricket and the current England dressing room.
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Coroner Jonathan Stevens recorded a suicide verdict at the inquest last week but noted failings in the care provided to Thorpe in his final months.
Stokes, who was man of the match at Old Trafford, will miss the fifth Test after scans on his right shoulder.
The fifth Test at the Oval starts on Thursday, England lead the series 2-1.
