Joe Root dedicated his record-equalling 33rd Test hundred to late mentor Graham Thorpe, insisting: “I wouldn’t be where I am without him”.
Root scored a superb 143 on the opening day of the Second Test against Sri Lanka at Lord’s to move level with Sir Alastair Cook’s leading mark among English batters.
The century was Root’s first since former England batter Thorpe took his own life earlier this month following a struggle with depression and anxiety.
“He was one of those people who offered me so much and it was nice to be able to think of him in that moment,” said Root, who looked skywards during his celebration upon reaching three figures.
He put a lot into my game and my career. Without his help I definitely wouldn’t be where I am now
“He’s someone I’m sorely going miss and who I owe a lot to. He put a lot into my game and my career. Without his help I definitely wouldn’t be where I am now.”
Many of the current England team worked with Thorpe at some stage during his more than a decade as part of the national coaching set-up.
He was particularly close, however, with the likes of Ben Stokes and Root, who looked visibly emotional during a minute’s applause ahead of the First Test against Sri Lanka at Old Trafford last week.
Thorpe first encountered Root as a young batter playing Second XI cricket for Yorkshire and was a key part in his call-up first for the England Lions and then for the senior Test tour of India on which he made his debut in 2012.
“You’re always having to evolve as a player and you need people you can bounce ideas off, people that can take pressure off you in different ways, know how to talk to you when things aren’t going well and when they are going well,” Root added.
“I was very lucky to have someone like him, along with others as well. He was the one guy who was constant throughout that 10, 11, 12-year period where I could go to him under pressure and he had a really goods understanding of my game.
“It evolved into more than that, we became good friends and I really enjoyed spending a lot of time with him. It was nice to pay a small tribute. He means a lot to me and that was a small thank you.”
