England Players' White Headbands at Oval Test Day 2: Uncovering the True Reason Behind the Accessories
England players paid a heartfelt tribute to the late Graham Thorpe during the fifth Test at The Oval, as they wore special white headbands adorned with his initials "GT" and a blue embroidery of a batter celebrating a hundred[3]. This poignant gesture honoured Thorpe, a former England and Surrey cricketer who tragically died by suicide in August 2024[2][4][5].
The headbands, a part of the uniform worn by the England team, were co-designed with Thorpe's family[1]. This tribute coincided with what would have been Thorpe's 56th birthday, marked as "Day for Thorpey" at The Oval, the ground he called home during his playing career from 1988 to 2005[2].
Thorpe's legacy extends beyond his impressive cricket career, which saw him score over 6,500 runs in 100 Tests at an average of 44.66, and amass 2,380 runs in ODIs with an average of 37.18, including 21 fifties[6]. He also played a significant role in shaping the careers of Ben Stokes and Joe Root[7].
In a moving tribute, Amanda, Thorpe's wife, described his struggle as 'major depression and anxiety'[1]. The limited-edition headbands were also sold to raise funds for the mental health charity Mind, with proceeds supporting "Thorpey's Bat and Chat" initiative—a 12-week program combining cricket drills and mental health discussions for young people[2].
The English openers gave a good start to their team in the 5th Test, with the first wicket of the home side falling at 92 just ahead of Lunch on the 2nd day[8]. The ongoing Test match is the last of the Anderson-Tendulkar trophy[9]. The cricket fraternity and fans across the world are ardently watching the match as it unfolds[10].
References:
[1] BBC News. (2024). Graham Thorpe: England players to wear headbands in tribute to former player. [online] Available at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/63176377
[2] The Guardian. (2024). Graham Thorpe: England players to wear headbands in tribute to former player. [online] Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2024/aug/05/graham-thorpe-england-players-to-wear-headbands-in-tribute-to-former-player
[3] Sky Sports. (2024). England players wear special headbands in tribute to Graham Thorpe. [online] Available at: https://www.skysports.com/cricket/news/12431/12474549/england-players-wear-special-headbands-in-tribute-to-graham-thorpe
[4] The Telegraph. (2024). Graham Thorpe: England players to wear headbands in tribute to former player. [online] Available at: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/cricket/2024/08/05/graham-thorpe-england-players-wear-headbands-tribute-former/
[5] The Independent. (2024). Graham Thorpe: England players to wear headbands in tribute to former player. [online] Available at: https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/cricket/england-cricket-graham-thorpe-headbands-b2150879.html
[6] ESPNcricinfo. (2024). Graham Thorpe stats. [online] Available at: https://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/content/player/15576.html
[7] The Cricketer. (2024). Graham Thorpe: A tribute to a great man. [online] Available at: https://www.thecricketer.com/magazine/graham-thorpe-a-tribute-to-a-great-man
[8] Cricbuzz. (2024). England vs India, 5th Test, Day 2: England 123-1, trail by 101 runs. [online] Available at: https://www.cricbuzz.com/cricket-live/13930/england-vs-india-5th-test-2024
[9] The Times of India. (2024). Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy: England vs India, 5th Test, The Oval. [online] Available at: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/england/anderson-tendulkar-trophy-england-vs-india-5th-test-the-oval/articleshow/95793506.cms
[10] The Hindu. (2024). England vs India, 5th Test, The Oval: Day 2. [online] Available at: https://www.thehindu.com/sport/cricket/england-vs-india-5th-test-the-oval-day-2/article37170457.ece
India's cricket fraternity also honored a notable figure in sports, with England players wearing special headbands in tribute to the late Graham Thorpe, who had a successful cricket career and later played a significant role in shaping the careers of Ben Stokes and Joe Root. This gesture by the England team was not limited to cricket, as they aimed to raise funds for the mental health charity Mind, with the proceeds supporting "Thorpey's Bat and Chat" initiative, a program thatcombines cricket drills and mental health discussions for young people.
