The iconic English cricketer Graham Thorpe has passed away at the age of 55, with Michael Vaughan and Ben Stokes at the forefront of tributes paid to the former England batsman.
Making his international debut in 1993, Thorpe scored a century in his first Ashes appearance, a feat not achieved by an England player in 20 years.
He quickly became a mainstay for England, amassing 100 Test caps, 16 centuries, and playing 82 One Day Internationals, while also enjoying a distinguished 17-year stint with Surrey.
His last Test match occurred in June 2005, and he subsequently stepped away from the international scene, missing out on the Ashes series that summer. Thorpe is survived by his wife Amanda and their four children: Henry, Amelia, Kitty, and Emma.
Vaughan, who captained Thorpe towards the end of his Test career, expressed his sadness on X: ‘RIP Thorpey. I am grateful for all the guidance you provided throughout my career; you were both an outstanding player and a fantastic teammate. Your departure is felt deeply, but you will be remembered as a cricketing legend… My thoughts are with everyone who knew Thorpey and his family xxx.’
Stokes shared his grief on social media, posting five heart emojis alongside a photo of Thorpe wearing the number 564, which represented his Test cap.

Graham Thorpe during an England nets session at Sydney Cricket Ground on January 4, 2022

Graham Thorpe with his wife Amanda, children Kitty, then three, and Emma, then 20 months old, at his MBE investiture at Buckingham Palace in London on July 12, 2007

Graham Thorpe, pictured playing for England on August 15, 2004, has died at the age of 55



Current England opener Ben Duckett shared his sorrow on X: ‘It’s heartbreaking to hear of Thorpe’s passing. He was one of my childhood heroes, and I was fortunate to have worked alongside him. My thoughts are with his friends and family during this difficult time.’
A message from the England and Wales Cricket Board stated: ‘It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of Graham Thorpe, MBE.
‘Words cannot express the shock we feel at the news of Graham’s death.
‘More than being one of England’s finest batsmen, he was a cherished member of the cricket community and held in high regard by fans worldwide.
‘His talent was undeniable, and his contributions during a 13-year international career brought joy to his teammates, as well as supporters of England and Surrey CCC.
‘Later in his career, as a coach, he nurtured England’s elite talents, achieving remarkable victories across different formats of the game.

Thorpe at a Surrey County Cricket Club photocall at the Oval in London on April 5, 2005

Graham Thorpe holds a beer with Mark Butcher on April 3, 2004

Graham Thorpe celebrates winning the Test series on June 13, 2004
‘The cricket community is in mourning today. We extend our heartfelt condolences to his wife Amanda, children, father Geoff, and all of his family and friends during this immensely challenging time. Graham’s extraordinary contributions to the sport will always be cherished.’
Post-retirement, Thorpe continued to engage with the sport by moving to New South Wales, where he worked with young talents like Steve Smith and David Warner.
He returned to the England setup from 2010 to 2022.
Thorpe found himself in charge during a Test in Sydney after Chris Silverwood contracted coronavirus, achieving a dramatic draw that prevented what seemed like an inevitable Ashes defeat.
Steve Elworthy, Surrey’s chief executive, said: ‘The news of Graham’s passing has left everyone at the club heartbroken. His contributions to both club and country were remarkable, and he was adored by countless cricket fans.

Thorpe (right) with England’s Nasser Hussain (left) and Michael Atherton (centre) in 2000

Thorpe leaves the field after scoring his century during the fourth day of the third Test Match between England and New Zealand at Trent Bridge in Nottingham on June 13, 2004

England batsman Graham Thorpe (right) with Geraint Jones (left) on March 27, 2004
‘Our condolences and thoughts are with Graham’s family and friends, and we are prepared to provide any support we can. We kindly request that the privacy of the family is respected during this extremely challenging time.’
Thorpe’s former club, Surrey, also honored him as one of their ‘greatest sons’.
Chair Oli Slipper remarked: ‘He is a true legend of Surrey, and he brought immense pride to the Club while donning both the Three Feathers and the Three Lions.
‘Thorpe made significant contributions to the club, both as a cricketer and as an individual, and his absence will be deeply felt.’
During his career, Thorpe averaged an impressive 44.7 runs in Test matches.
He achieved a top score of 200 not out and also played in 77 One Day Internationals.
One of his most remarkable Test innings occurred in 2000 against Pakistan in Karachi when, after a disastrous collapse from the hosts, Thorpe delivered an unbeaten 64 runs in fading light, securing England’s first series victory in Pakistan for 39 years and ending Pakistan’s 35-year unbeaten run at the National Stadium.

England batting coach Graham Thorpe and Joe Root on August 20, 2019

Graham Thorpe on December 16, 2005

Thorpe at a signing for his book ‘Rising from the Ashes’ in Chelmsford in September 2005
‘I remember it was completely dark about five to ten minutes after we finished playing,’ Thorpe recounted to Cricket Monthly. ‘From the dressing room, walking back onto the balcony, it was pitch black.
‘We popped open lemonade bottles, as drinking was prohibited in Pakistan. That evening, we flew back to Dubai, where we enjoyed a few Guinnesses. We had about a two-hour turnaround from the conclusion of the match, back to the hotel and off to the airport for our flight.’
Thorpe accumulated over 2,000 runs in the shorter formats, and his intellect and leadership facilitated a seamless transition into coaching after his retirement in 2006.
He began his coaching career in Australia, mentoring the likes of Steve Smith and David Warner in New South Wales, before later joining the England and Wales Cricket Board as a batting coach.

Graham Thorpe on December 29, 2004

Graham Thorpe at his MBE Investiture at Buckingham Palace in London on July 12, 2007

England’s Joe Root (right) talks with Thorpe during the Ashes in Sydney on January 9, 2022
Served as assistant to the senior squad under Trevor Bayliss and Chris Silverwood, Thorpe took the helm during this winter’s Sydney Test against Australia due to Silverwood’s COVID-19 diagnosis.
His role as England assistant coach faced scrutiny following an incident during the Ashes where police were called to the team hotel due to a late-night gathering.
Despite this untimely conclusion to his England coaching journey, he remains highly respected by players and fans alike.
In May, the Professional Cricketers’ Association reported that Thorpe had become gravely ill with an unspecified condition. The cause of his passing has not yet been disclosed.