Former England cricketer Graham Thorpe has died aged 55, the England and
Wales Cricket Board has introduced.

The previous Surrey left-hander was famend as one of many most interesting English gamers of his era, taking part in precisely 100 Exams and scoring 16 centuries earlier than retiring in 2005.

He captained England on three events and served in varied teaching roles for his nation between 2010 and 2022.

”There appear to be no acceptable phrases to explain the deep shock we really feel at Graham’s dying,” an announcement from the governing physique learn.

”A couple of of England’s finest-ever batters, he was a beloved member of the cricket household and revered by followers everywhere in the world.

“His ability was unquestioned, and his talents and achievements throughout a 13-year worldwide profession introduced a lot happiness to his teammates and England and Surrey CCC supporters alike. Later, as a coach, he guided the perfect England Males’s expertise to some unimaginable victories throughout all codecs of the sport.

”The cricket world is in mourning at present. Our hearts exit to his spouse Amanda, his youngsters, father Geoff, and all of his household and buddies throughout this unimaginably troublesome time. We are going to at all times keep in mind Graham for his extraordinary contributions to the game.”

Surrey chair Oli Slipper led the tributes from Thorpe’s former county, the place he revamped 300 appearances in each first-class and Checklist A cricket throughout a 17-year profession.

“Graham is without doubt one of the nice sons of Surrey and there’s an awesome disappointment that he won’t stroll via the gates of the Oval once more. He’s a legend of Surrey and introduced nice delight to the membership sporting each the Three Feathers and the Three Lions.

“He made excellent contributions to the membership as a cricketer, and as a person, and he will probably be so sorely missed.”

Previous and current gamers have been amongst these to pay tribute to Thorpe as properly, together with one among his former England captains in Michael Vaughan.

“RIP Thorpey. Thanks for all the recommendation all through my profession, you have been a fantastic participant and a superb team-mate,” Vaughan posted on X.

“You will have gone far too younger however you allow as an England cricket legend… Ideas with all who knew Thorpey and to all of the household xxx.”

Present England opener Ben Duckett additionally wrote on X, posting: “Heartbreaking to see Thorpey has handed away. He was one among my heroes rising up and I used to be lucky to work with him.

“My ideas exit to all of his family and friends throughout this robust time.”

Duckett’s England team-mate Joe Root added his personal tribute on Instagram as properly.

“Hero, mentor and a lot extra,” Root wrote with an image of him and Thorpe celebrating England’s 2019 Cricket World Cup triumph. “Relaxation in peace and thanks for every little thing!”

Graham Thorpe: 1969-2024

Thorpe made his first-class debut for Surrey in the summertime of 1988 earlier than establishing himself as an everyday within the 1989 season.

He lastly made his England debut on the age of 24, scoring 114 on debut towards Australia at Trent Bridge in 1993.

Thorpe would go on to turn out to be a mainstay of the middle-order along with his unbeaten double-hundred towards New Zealand in Christchurch in 2002 among the many highlights of his profession – his innings comprised 28 fours and 4 sixes.

Thorpe performed sporadically for England till his worldwide retirement in 2005. He went on to start a training profession in Australia, the place he labored with the likes of Steve Smith and David Warner at New South Wales, earlier than becoming a member of the England and Wales Cricket Board as a batting coach.

He was appointed Afghanistan head coach in March 2022 following his departure from the England set-up, however didn’t take up the function as a result of unwell well being.