England to honour late Graham Thorpe during Old Trafford Test

In what’s set to be a very emotional moment, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) have confirmed that former England cricketer Graham Thorpe, who tragically took his own life at the start of this month, will be honoured at Old Trafford during the first Test between England and Sri Lanka, starting on August 21 (Wednesday).

Thorpe, widely regarded as the outstanding England batter of his generation, died aged 55 earlier this month after being hit by a train, with his wife Amanda confirming he had taken his own life having suffered from depression for several years.

Before the first of a three-match series gets underway, the giant screens at Old Trafford will show videos recalling Thorpe's career. There will also be a minute's applause, and England players will wear black armbands in Thorpe's memory for the duration of the Test.

It will be the first time the side have publicly honoured Thorpe, who was England's assistant coach earlier, since his death sent shockwaves throughout the world of cricket.

England’s stand-in captain, Ollie Pope, who has followed in Thorpe's footsteps at both Surrey and England, spoke about the particularly poignant occasion in the lead-up to the game.

"We'll have our black armbands on throughout the course of the game and there'll be a tribute to him before the game," he said during a pre-match press conference on Tuesday.

"It's hurt a lot of people in that changing room. He was a great man. I probably had two or three years playing with him as a batting coach and, as a person, I really admired him."

The 26-year-old Pope added, "I always remember him saying one thing to me which was, 'Never let the runs you're scoring define you as a person'. When you're young, in a bit of a rut, that was exactly what I needed to hear."

"It shows for me what a people's person he was. He was loved in the changing room. He's such a sad loss to everyone, to the country, his family and the boys as well. He's missed and we'll honour him this week."

(with inputs from AFP)

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