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England have paid tribute to former player and coach Graham Thorpe before the morning of their first Test against Sri Lanka at Old Trafford.
Before the start of play, both teams lined up for a video tribute on screens, with a poem read out by Michael Atherton and a moment of applause before the anthems from the two nations.
Sri Lanka and England players donned black armbands, and the host side will be wearing theirs throughout the Test.
Thorpe took his own life after suffering “major depression and anxiety” according to his wife and children and died at the age of 55.
The former Surrey batter had been ill since May 2022, when he made a serious attempt on his life. After that occasion the England players had a shirt in tribute to their former batting coach, with Ben Stokes leaving the field in a shirt that read “Thorpe 564” for his first toss as England captain.
Thorpe played exactly 100 Tests for England and scored 16 centuries before retiring in 2005. He hit 6,744 Test runs in his career at an average of 44.66 and went on to become England’s batting coach, a position he held until 2022.
The Sri Lanka Test match is the first international the side have played since Thorpe died, although in the Hundred there have also been minutes’ silence and black armbands.
If you are experiencing feelings of distress, or are struggling to cope, you can speak to the Samaritans, in confidence, on 116 123 (UK and ROI), email jo@samaritans.org, or visit the Samaritans website to find details of your nearest branch. If you are based in the USA, and you or someone you know needs mental health assistance right now, call or text 988, or visit 988lifeline.org to access online chat from the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. This is a free, confidential crisis hotline that is available to everyone 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
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