A Battle with Depression and Anxiety
Graham Thorpe, the former England cricketer and coach, took his own life after a prolonged struggle with severe depression and anxiety, his family has revealed. The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) confirmed Thorpe’s death on August 6 at the age of 55. The cricketing world was unaware of the depth of his mental health battle, which had been ongoing since May 2022.
A silent struggle
Thorpe’s wife, Amanda, disclosed in an interview with his former teammate, Michael Atherton, in The Times that her husband had made a serious attempt on his life two years ago. Despite efforts to support him and various treatments, Thorpe’s mental health continued to deteriorate. Amanda shared, “Graham was renowned as someone who was very mentally strong on the field and he was in good physical health. But mental illness is a real disease and can affect anyone. Despite having a wife and two daughters whom he loved and who loved him, he did not get better.”
She further revealed the devastating impact of his illness, stating, “He was so unwell in recent times and he really did believe that we would be better off without him and we are devastated that he acted on that and took his own life.”
A tribute to a cricketing icon
In the wake of his passing, the England cricket team paid tribute to Thorpe. England’s captain, Ben Stokes, honored his former coach by donning a shirt with “Thorpe 564” during his first toss as captain. This gesture symbolized the respect and admiration Thorpe commanded within the cricketing community.
One of Thorpe’s daughters, Kitty, aged 22, expressed the family’s desire to break the silence surrounding his death. “We are not ashamed of talking about it,” she said. “There is nothing to hide and it is not a stigma. We were trying to help him get better before and trying to protect him, which is why we said nothing. This is the time now to share the news, however horrible it is. We’ve wanted to be able to talk and share and we’d now like to raise awareness, too.”
A storied career
Thorpe, who played exactly 100 Tests for England, was a legendary figure in the cricket world. He scored 6,744 runs at an average of 44.66, with 16 centuries to his name, before retiring in 2005. After his playing days, he continued to contribute to the sport as England’s batting coach, a role he held until 2022.
Thorpe’s passing serves as a sobering reminder of the profound impact mental illness can have, even on those who appear strong on the surface. His family’s openness about his struggles aims to raise awareness and break the stigma surrounding mental health.