Graham Thorpe‘s Widow Believes More ECB Support Could Have Saved His Life
Amanda thorpe, the widow of former England cricketer Graham Thorpe, has stated she believes her husband would still be alive if the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) had provided more support following his retirement from his role wiht the organization.Thorpe died in May 2023 at the age of 52.
According to reports, Thorpe had been receiving therapy for his mental health for 18 months prior to leaving the ECB in February 2022, after England’s 4-0 Ashes series defeat in Australia. The ECB had funded his treatment, hospital stays, and extended health insurance following his departure.
Though, Amanda Thorpe told TalkSport that a more robust support system during his transition could have made “all the difference.” She stated, “If the entire rug of his cricketing career had not been pulled from under him so fully … it is really clear to me that he would still be alive.” She added that the abrupt end to his career led to a “mental breakdown” and a feeling of disconnection, and that “just a little bit of the support framework there to lean on a bit to just transition a bit more” could have been crucial.
Amanda Thorpe also described the remote support offered as “woeful,” noting her husband’s condition deteriorated despite ongoing sessions. “As he went through these sessions, it was clear that he wasn’t coping. He was getting worse,” she said. ”We really did ask for help. I knew he needed more help than that and it wasn’t forthcoming.”
An ECB spokesperson acknowledged the profound loss felt across the cricketing community and reiterated their sympathies to the Thorpe family. They confirmed the ECB had met with Amanda Thorpe to discuss her concerns and maintained regular contact with the family. The spokesperson also highlighted that Thorpe’s death was examined by a coroner, with the ECB providing full support during the inquest earlier this year.
Graham Thorpe played 82 Test matches for England between 1993 and 2002, scoring 6,744 runs and establishing himself as one of the country’s finest batsmen. Following his playing career, he held coaching positions with various teams before joining the ECB.
