Surrey County Cricket Club (SCCC) will pay tribute to late England cricketer Graham Thorpe, who took his own life last year, on Day 2 of the fifth and final Test of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy at The Oval. The day, ‘A Day for Thorpey,’ will commemorate the life and playing career of the left-handed batman, who would have been 56 years old on the same day.
Thorpe, who made 6,744 Test runs at 44.66, joined the elite group of only 17 men to have played 100 Tests for England. He also played 82 ODIs and served Surrey for 17 seasons between 1988 and 2005. He later worked as a coach with Surrey and England, including being on the staff during the 2021–22 Ashes in Australia.
The SCCC, in a statement, said:
“The life of England and Surrey cricketer Graham Thorpe will be remembered and celebrated on Friday, 1 August 2025, during the second day of the final Test Match in the series between England v India.”
In August last year, Thorpe was hit by a speeding train which caused his death at the age of 55. The family later confirmed that it was a suicide.
The county noted:
“A Day for Thorpey will be held at the Kia Oval Cricket Ground, London, in support of mental health charity Mind, on what would have been Graham’s 56th birthday.”
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Recalling Thorpe’s Career and Legacy
Thorpe sported a trademark headband throughout his 12-year global career between 1993 and 2005. Fans at The Oval on the day of remembrance will be urged to wear replicas of the headbands. The headbands, which have been designed by Thorpe’s family and cost £5, will generate funds for mental health charity Mind.
Thorpe’s wife Amanda and daughters Kitty and Emma are spearheading fundraising efforts to take ‘Thorpey’s Bat and Chat’ sessions nationwide. Developed by Mind, the sessions apply cricket as a way to assist individuals fighting mental health problems.
Surrey further stated:
“A Day for Thorpey will raise money for mental health charity Mind through the sale of a limited-edition headband which resembles what Graham wore when he was batting for England. The headbands have been co-designed with Graham’s wife Amanda and daughters Kitty and Emma.”
In an interaction with BBC, Graham’s wife Amanda Thorpe said:
“That day will be very powerful. We want to celebrate him and his memory. His light was so bright. He’ll go on.”