'a Day For Thorpey' To Celebrate England Batter

The family of Graham Thorpe want to "celebrate his memory" connected 'A Day for Thorpey' during England's 5th Test against India astatine The Oval.

Legendary England batter Thorpe took his ain life past twelvemonth aft a prolonged struggle pinch slump and anxiety. He was 55.

The erstwhile Surrey subordinate will beryllium remembered connected nan 2nd time of nan 5th Test astatine nan crushed wherever he had a 17-year region career. That day, 1 August, would person been his 56th birthday.

In a motion to nan trademark headband Thorpe wore while batting, headbands designed by his woman Amanda and daughters Kitty and Emma will beryllium sold to raise money for intelligence wellness kindness Mind.

Speaking to BBC Breakfast, Amanda said: "That time will beryllium very powerful. We want to observe him and his memory. His ray was truthful bright. He'll spell on."

Kitty added: "Death and condolences successful wide isn't talked astir enough, considering it happens to everyone. It surrounds us. When you adhd nan furniture of decease by suicide, that makes it moreover much taboo.

"I understand it's difficult to talk astir - group don't want to opportunity nan incorrect thing. That doesn't thief tackle nan stigma astir it. We request to alteration nan measurement we're addressing nan topic. That's why we're moving pinch Mind to do thing to thief that."

Thorpe famously became nan first England batter for 20 years to people a 100 connected their Test debut erstwhile he reached 3 figures against Australia astatine Trent Bridge successful 1993.

A stylish left-hander, Thorpe would spell connected to go 1 of only 17 men to scope 100 Test caps for England, scoring 6,744 runs astatine an mean of 44.66.

Following his playing career, he held coaching roles pinch Surrey and England. He was portion of nan England unit during nan taxing 2021-22 Ashes successful Australia, played nether Covid restrictions. He was fto spell aft England mislaid that bid 4-0.

He was named caput coach of Afghanistan successful March of 2022, past made a first effort connected his life successful May of nan aforesaid year, subsequently spending a prolonged play successful intensive care.

"Working successful nan Covid bubbles, he recovered that tough," said Amanda. "He wasn't awesome astatine pursuing rules astatine nan champion of times. He would move up for a squad meal successful nan incorrect clothes, that is if he turned up astatine all.

"The past circuit he did erstwhile he was coaching, nan Ashes, that was a really difficult circuit because location were still afloat Covid restrictions.

"It was each very stressful and he wasn't awesome connected that trip. Then he came back, and, arsenic happens, his occupation ended, past he sewage offered different job. It was difficult for him, astir apt harder than we knew. He sewage a batch worse then, very quickly, actually."

Thorpe died connected 4 August past year.

"It was intolerable not to announcement his spark and full characteristic changed, complete clip to almost unrecognisable," said Kitty. "It was atrocious to see. What started arsenic a intelligence unwellness turned into a beingness illness.

"Over 2 years he aged astir 15 years. He looked really weak. He recovered nan astir easy, menial tasks truthful challenging, for illustration making a repast aliases stepping nan dog. He started struggling to moreover do that. He mislaid his strength.

"We tried galore different treatments, but thing worked for him."

In nan run-up to 'A Day for Thorpey', Amanda has visited 'Bat and Chat' successful Burton-upon-Trent - an inaugural from Mind designed to support intelligence wellness done cricket.

The sessions are to beryllium renamed 'Thorpey's Bat and Chat' and costs raised from nan time astatine The Oval will beryllium utilized to rotation them retired crossed nan country.

"My dada was rather a backstage person, truthful for america to stock his and our acquisition is important to thief different group who person gone done akin things," said Emma.

"To commencement a conversation, to trim nan shame and stigma location are astir these conversations."

Kitty added: "Our cardinal connection is to speak up and scope retired for thief early on. There is thief retired there. It needs to beryllium spoken astir more.

"There are awesome charities for illustration Mind and galore more. Hopefully complete clip this will grow, location will beryllium much thief and services. That's what we're raising money for."

If you're affected by immoderate of nan issues successful this article you tin find specifications of organisations who tin thief via nan BBC Action Line.