England batter Joe Root has paid an emotional tribute to former cricketer Graham Thorpe, who recently passed away at age 55. Root reflected on Thorpe’s significant impact on his career, expressing that without Thorpe’s guidance and support, he might not have achieved the success he has.
Graham Thorpe, who died on August 4 after a prolonged battle with depression, had served as an assistant coach for the England team on several occasions, including during the 2021 Ashes series. Root’s tribute comes ahead of England’s series against Sri Lanka.
In a statement to Sky Sports, Root described how Thorpe influenced him as a coach during the latter part of Thorpe’s career. Root recalled the surreal experience of meeting Graham Thorpe and discussing the game with him. Over the next 12 years, Root worked closely with Thorpe, who played a crucial role in his development as a player. Root acknowledged that without Thorpe’s support and advocacy, his career might not have reached its current heights.
Graham Thorpe was also part of the coaching team when England won the ODI World Cup in 2019. Root, coming off a strong Test series against the West Indies, is set to continue his form as England faces Sri Lanka in a three-match Test series starting today.
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