ENG vs IND 2025: Surrey to honour Graham Thorpe on Day 2 of Oval Test

The life of former English legendary cricketer Graham Thorpe will be commemorated by the Surrey County Cricket Club on Day 2 of the final Test of the ongoing five-match series between England and India at the Oval. Thorpe tragically took his own life on August 4 last year after a prolonged battle with mental health issues.

The second day of the final day would have been Thorpe's 56th birthday. Thorpe, who represented England in 100 Tests and 82 ODIs, was hit by a speeding train last August at the age of 55. The family later confirmed that he had taken his own life.

Surrey CCC conveyed the development across their social media channels with a statement for the same. 

"The life of England and Surrey cricketer Graham Thorpe will be remembered and celebrated on Friday, 1 August 2025, during the second day of the final Test Match in the series between England v India," the SCCC said in a statement. A day for Thorpey will be held at the Kia Oval Cricket Ground, London, in support of mental health charity Mind, on what would have been Graham's 56th birthday," stated the club in a social media release.

The release even urged the supporters at the venue on August 1 to purchase a limited-edition headband, a similar merchandise which Thorpe would wear during his playing days.

"A day for Thorpey will raise money for mental health charity Mind through the sale of a limited-edition headband which resembles what Graham wore when he was batting for England. The headbands have been co-designed with Graham's wife Amanda and daughters Kitty and Emma," the statement further read.

The former middle-order batter's wife Amanda Thorpe and one of their daughters, Kitty Thorpe, recently expressed their sentiments on their motive to celebrate the day. 

"That day will be very powerful. We want to celebrate him and his memory. His light was so bright. He'll go on," Amanda told BBC recently.

"Death and grief in general isn't talked about enough, considering it happens to everyone. It surrounds us. When you add the layer of death by suicide, that makes it even more taboo," commented Kitty.

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Thorpe had a prolific career for England and Surrey. After his international and domestic career came to a close, Thorpe took up the coaching space and helped guide England's top talent to victories across all formats of the game.