Graham Thorpe, who passed away at 55, was a remarkable England batsman celebrated throughout his 100-Test career, which spanned the turn of the millennium.
While Mike Atherton was known for his defensive play and Alec Stewart dazzled with his aggressive batting, Thorpe—who was affectionately referred to as a ‘little genius’ by his teammate and close friend Nasser Hussain—combined an exceptional technique with an unyielding spirit, sharp cricketing intellect, and remarkable adaptability.
From notching up centuries against Australia’s fast bowlers at the WACA to tackling Muttiah Muralitharan on a spin-friendly pitch in Colombo, he truly was England’s go-to player for every situation. At times, it seemed that only his intense nature and occasionally tumultuous personal life posed challenges.
With a total of 6,744 Test runs at an average of 44, including 16 centuries, and 2,380 runs at 37 in one-day internationals, his talent was unmissable. Yet, it was the way he scored those runs, rather than just the numbers themselves, that defined him as one of England’s greats.
Born in Farnham, Surrey, in 1969, Thorpe began playing for the local Wrecclesham men’s team at the age of 13. When he turned 16, he caught the attention of the county selectors. After a fleeting interest from Brentford suggested a potential career as a ‘nip-your-ankles midfielder’ in football was unlikely, he committed himself to cricket.
Former England cricketer Graham Thorpe has died at the age of 55
As a player, Thorpe is widely considered as one of English cricket’s finest ever middle order batsmen – here he is pictured playing against New Zealand in Christchurch in 2002
Thorpe was most recently England’s batting coach, but was sacked after the 4-0 Ashes series defeat in 2022
Initially, it appeared that tours with England A might be the pinnacle of his career. However, selectors recognized his potential. Debuting in the third Ashes Test at Trent Bridge in 1993, with England trailing 2-0 amidst widespread criticism, Thorpe answered his doubters by rebounding from a disappointing first innings against Merv Hughes with a stunning 114 not out in the second innings.
He became the first England batsman to score a Test century on debut since Frank Hayes two decades prior.
Although centuries came sparingly at first, with only one between his debut at Nottingham and a pair in New Zealand (1996-97), he gradually built a reputation as a fearless counter-attacker, exemplified by three consecutive seventies against South Africa in 1994.
His signature shot, a one-legged swivel-pull made elegant by his left-handed stance, became a hallmark of England’s otherwise struggling era.
His adaptability shone through during unexpected victories in Pakistan and Sri Lanka in 2000-01. In Lahore’s first Test, he skillfully crafted 118 runs off 301 balls with only two boundaries.
During the decisive Test in Karachi, he led the way in a thrilling chase, scoring an unbeaten 64, clinching a 1-0 series win. The sight of him and Hussain jubilantly running off the field together became an iconic moment of their era.
In September 2017, Thorpe was presented with a silver cap to commemorate his 100 Tests
Thorpe and Andrew Strauss celebrate England winning their first Test match against South Africa in Port Elizabeth in 2004
Thorpe, pictured here alongside Nasser Hussain (right) after clinching a defining victory in the near dark in Pakistan in 2000, is regarded as one of the best batsmen of his generation
In the 1993 Ashes, Thorpe made a magnificent unbeaten 114 to help England draw against Australia at Trent Bridge, where the crowd gave him a standing ovation
Weeks later, on a contentious tour of Sri Lanka, Thorpe skillfully handled Muralitharan, scoring 59 and 46 in a series-equalizing victory at Kandy, then achieving 113 and 32—both unbeaten—as England secured the series in Colombo. Wisden remarked that this century ‘solidified his reputation as a world-class batsman, equally prepared to counter-attack as to defend, appearing composed against both pace and spin.’ Without his contributions, Atherton’s team could have easily faced a 3-0 defeat.
Further memorable performances followed, including a commanding double-hundred in Christchurch, before he was dropped before the 2005 Ashes at nearly 36 years old. With Kevin Pietersen’s emergence and the goal to integrate Ian Bell, change was inevitable.
The twilight years of Thorpe’s career were marked by a blend of excellence and personal upheaval. He left a tour of India in late 2001 due to marital troubles with his wife Nicky.
A comeback against India in 2002 was brief, again due to the same reasons. Atherton noted that ‘out of all the players I played with, his mental state most influenced his performance.’
A difficult divorce in 2003 influenced much of his 2005 autobiography, Rising from the Ashes, recounting his battles with alcohol as a source of comfort—a period when friends feared that his England career could be over. Nevertheless, separation helped to clarify his thoughts for a final resurgence.
Thorpe scored 124 on his return, contributing to a spirited series-leveling victory over South Africa at The Oval, his home ground. In 2004, under the captaincy of Michael Vaughan, he achieved an incredible year, registering 951 runs at an average of 73, including four centuries. Shortly thereafter, he retired while still performing at a high level, ranking among England’s top 15 Test run-scorers.
The left-hander, pictured here playing against Pakistan in 2000, was a key man for years
Thorpe was open about the struggles he faced when he split from his wife Nicky (left)
Thorpe and Joe Root together, after England’s stunning World Cup final victory over New Zealand at Lord’s back in 2019
Thorpe took over as Afghanistan head coach following his England departure before falling seriously ill
As Alec Stewart, his long-time Surrey and England teammate remarked, Thorpe was ‘so talented that he could score a hundred with his eyes closed at the county level.’
A new chapter in his life began with a coaching career. He assumed the role of England’s lead batting coach in 2010 and continued until he was among those relieved of their duties following the 4-0 defeat in Australia in 2022.
Having since remarried, to Amanda, he seemed poised to embark on a new phase as head coach of Afghanistan prior to falling seriously ill. Instead, the cricket world mourns the loss of one of the most entertaining batsmen of the past three decades.
