The widow of England cricket legend Graham Thorpe has stated publicly that her husband's tragic death could have been prevented if the sport's governing body had provided adequate mental health support following his dismissal.
A Deteriorating Situation
Graham Thorpe, a revered former England batsman, took his own life in August 2024. This devastating event came two and a half years after he was sacked from his coaching role with the national team in the wake of a 4-0 Ashes series defeat.
His wife, Amanda Thorpe, has now broken her silence, launching a powerful critique of the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB). She described the support offered to her husband as "woeful," revealing that while the ECB did fund some treatment, it was insufficient to address his rapidly declining mental state.
Missed Interventions and Systemic Failings
An official inquest into Thorpe's death documented clear "shortcomings" in the healthcare he received. While it did not criticise the ECB's decision to terminate his contract, Amanda Thorpe's account points to critical failures in the duty of care.
She disclosed that a key recommendation from a counsellor for her husband to receive residential care was never acted upon. According to her, the necessary intensive support from the ECB only materialised when Thorpe was critically unwell, a moment she described as arriving when he was already "five minutes from death".
This timeline suggests a reactive, rather than proactive, approach to welfare, leaving a former player in a desperate situation without the lifeline he needed.
