Surrey County Cricket Club (SCCC) will pay tribute to the late Graham Thorpe, former England and Surrey batter, during Day 2 of the fifth and final Test of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy between England and India at The Oval on Friday, 1 August 2025.
The day—called “A Day for Thorpey”—will celebrate Thorpe’s life and legacy while raising awareness and funds for mental health charity Mind, marking what would have been his 56th birthday.
Thorpe, who played 100 Tests and 82 ODIs for England from 1993 to 2005, died by suicide last August after being struck by a speeding train. He was 55. His family later confirmed the cause of death and are now working to open a conversation about mental health and the stigma around suicide.
“The life of England and Surrey cricketer Graham Thorpe will be remembered and celebrated… during the second day of the final Test Match,” SCCC said in an official statement.
A special part of the tribute includes fans being encouraged to wear limited-edition headbands, modelled after the iconic ones Thorpe used to wear while batting for England. The headbands have been co-designed by his wife, Amanda, and daughters Kitty and Emma, with proceeds going to Mind.
“That day will be very powerful. We want to celebrate him and his memory. His light was so bright. He’ll go on,” said Amanda Thorpe in an emotional interview with the BBC.
“Death and grief in general isn’t talked about enough, considering it happens to everyone. It surrounds us,” said Kitty Thorpe.
“When you add the layer of death by suicide, that makes it even more taboo. I understand it’s difficult to talk about—people don’t want to say the wrong thing. That doesn’t help tackle the stigma around it. We need to change the way we’re addressing the topic.”
Emma Thorpe added that opening up about their experience is a way to help others:
“My dad was quite a private person, so for us to share his experience with his mental health, and our experience of it, it’s important that we do that. We hope it helps other people who have gone through similar things and reduces the shame and stigma around these conversations.”
Thorpe was a stalwart of Surrey’s first-class team before moving into coaching roles with both Surrey and the England national team. His quiet determination and technical brilliance at the crease earned him respect worldwide.
The tribute at The Oval promises to be a heartfelt moment in the ongoing Test series, aiming not only to honour a beloved cricketer but also to spark critical conversations around mental health—particularly within sports.
