Graham Thorpe

[Tom8]

Crikey that is a shock, Graham Thorpe has died at relatively young age of 55.

Very good batsman who held some very weak England teams together at a time when there were many great bowlers in all opposition teams. Always admired his skill and determination. I always like a nudger and a nurdler as it is so dispiriting for opposing bowlers. Sad news.

[nicanary]

Saved England single-handedly against Pakistan in the dark. Literally in the dark, look uo the video. Tough cookie.

[Busa mav]

That’s sad, read his book a few years back , seemed to have a troubled life in later years with his marriage.
Loved watching him play.

[Zag_a_muffin]

Never looked "in" to my eyes but always managed to get a score. Loved watching him bat.

[ChocolateFrog]

Bit of a shock.

Getting to the point where 55 isn't that far off.

[Cheib]

What an incredible player he was…one of those very few who looked born to it from the very start. My son was playing in a county age group match on Monday, coach of the other team was a contemporary of Thorpe’s and coached with him at the ECB. had some wonderful things to say about him.

England’s stand out batsman in a generation which had some high class players but were dreadfully mismanaged.

[Supersam83]

Former England batter Thorpe took his own life, family says:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/articles/cy84x...

Sad news. I guess he had some demons he was dealing with.

[DeejRC]

Utterly saddens me and angers me that GT took his life. Such a chap brought so low by the loneliness of the mind is horrible.
For a team game, cricket is that most lonely of sports, the individual forever singled out amongst their peers, their colleagues. Bowlers against batters, one on one at all times complete with the full glare of media attention waiting to denounce their failure. For the media always pronounce failures louder than triumphs.

For the record Thorpey and for what little it’s worth now, you were a far bigger success than you ever were a failure. His family should always be proud and I hope the BA are on their feet at the next game to let everyone know. One of Englands finest.

[Magikarp]

Such sad news. He was one of my favourites, but especially from an era when supporting England was a little challenging. It’s utterly devastating for his family and anyone left behind, but he’s no longer suffering.

[Bright Halo]

Graham's family have announced today that he took his own life after suffering for last few years with anxiety and depression.
Depression is an awful thing and my heart goes out to his friends and family.

[airbusA346]

Bright Halo said:

Graham's family have announced today that he took his own life after suffering for last few years with anxiety and depression.
Depression is an awful thing and my heart goes out to his friends and family.

Some news reports are saying he was hit by a train. Hopefully the train driver and other people involved are getting the required support.

[abzmike]

Very sad all round, and a tragic end for a fine player.
Cricket certainly seems to have a relatively high quotient of players that struggle with mental health - is it the travel, time away from home, pressure to get selected?

[Mikebentley]

Not a fan of cricket but my deepest sympathies to his family. Choosing to follow a career as a professional sportsperson must be a poisoned chalice. Such a small percentage must actually make any money or at least enough to sustain them financially after sport. What do they do after especially if it falls apart early?

I’ve known of two former Worcestershire cricketers. One when I was a kid owned the sports shop in our local town for 30/40yrs (I didn’t know he was famous..ish). The other sold me a new Ford S Max.

As I said deepest sympathies to his family.

[RichB]

airbusA346 said:

Some news reports are saying he was hit by a train.
Hopefully the train driver and other people involved are getting the required support.

Indeed, hit by a train at Esher station. I always think that is a most dreadful way to commit suicide. The train driver must carry visions of that moment for the rest of his life.