Last Updated on 4 months by Charbel Coorey

The cricketing community was in mourning last week after the shock passing of Graham Thorpe. The former England and Surrey batter tragically passed away aged 55, with tributes flowing from around the world for a player who oozed class.

Thorpe’s wife, Amanda, revealed he took his own life. Speaking to The Times, she opened up on his mental health and anxiety battles.

“Despite having a wife and two daughters whom he loved and who loved him, he did not get better,” Amanda said, as quoted by The Sun UK.

“He was so unwell in recent times and he really did believe that we would be better off without him.”

“We are devastated that he acted on that and took his own life,” she said.

Graham Thorpe suffered from severe depression and anxiety – wife Amanda

Thorpe had been seriously ill back in 2022. He was named Afghanistan coach but was unable to take up the role due to health reasons.

“Despite glimpses of hope and of the old Graham, he continued to suffer from depression and anxiety, which at times got very severe,” Amanda said.

“We supported him as a family and he tried many, many treatments but unfortunately none of them really seemed to work.

“Graham was renowned as someone who was very mentally strong on the field and he was in good physical health.

“But mental illness is a real disease and can affect anyone.”

Officials and players held tributes for Thorpe during The Hundred. His First Class career began back in 1988, where he finished with a total of 21,937 runs at an average of 45.04. Out of those, 6,744 came in Test cricket, where he averaged a very solid 44.66.

A sign of Thorpe’s talent was his record around the world. He averaged above 40 in every country except South Africa and Zimbabwe, including 48.18 in Australia, 65.12 in New Zealand and 56.80 in Pakistan.

Thorpe also struck 10,871 List A runs, including 2,380 ODI runs with 21 fifties in 77 innings.

“It is with great sadness that we share the news of the passing of Surrey and England legend Graham Thorpe, MBE,” read Surrey’s statement after Thorpe’s passing last week.

“He made outstanding contributions to the Club as a cricketer, and as a man, and he will be so sorely missed.”