Veteran England cricketer and coach Graham Thorpe died at 55, leaving behind a legacy as one of the best middle-order batsmen and an influential coach.
Thorpe, a former England batter and coach, passing away was confirmed by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB).
Thorpe was considered one of the finest middle-order batsmen of his generation, playing 100 Tests for England between 1993 and 2005, scoring 16 centuries and over 6,000 runs with an average of 44.66, and 82 ODIs with 21 fifties.
He was known for consistent and reliable performances, his quiet demeanor, and his ability to grind out runs or counter-attack with boundaries.
After retiring, Thorpe transitioned into coaching roles with Surrey, New South Wales, and the England national team, including during their 2019 World Cup win. He was set to coach Afghanistan before falling seriously ill in 2022.
Ben Stokes, the current England Test captain, paid a heartfelt tribute to Thorpe, calling him "one of the greatest players" he had ever played with and a "huge influence" on his career.
This article was written in collaboration with Generative AI news company Alchemiq
Sources: Pratidin Time, BBC Sport, Independent, The Sun, The Hindu, India TV News, Nine, News18, LatestLY Bangla, B1 TV, Sportskeeda, Wisden, Times Now Hindi, Bastille Post, 7News, Orissa Post.