After leaving his coaching position with the England and Wales Cricket Board, the late Graham Thorpe’s widow expressed her belief that he may have survived had he received more support from the governing body. Thorpe, a well-respected batsman and former England assistant coach, tragically took his own life in August last year after battling anxiety and depression.
An inquest held in July 2025 at Surrey Coroner’s Court revealed that Thorpe had descended into depression following the loss of his coaching job in 2022 and had previously attempted suicide. The coroner, Jonathan Stevens, highlighted deficiencies in the care provided to Thorpe by healthcare professionals before his passing, ultimately ruling his death as a suicide. Thorpe had been undergoing mental health therapy for 18 months prior to his departure from the ECB.
Stevens acknowledged that the ECB had financed Thorpe’s treatment, hospital stays, and extended his health insurance coverage after he left in February 2022. Despite this, Amanda Thorpe, his widow, felt that more support could have been offered during this transitional phase to help him feel better connected.
Amanda Thorpe shared her perspective on talkSPORT, emphasizing that had her husband not experienced such a sudden upheaval in his cricketing career, he might still be alive. She lamented the lack of a support system to aid in his transition out of the cricketing environment, citing the significant impact it could have made.
Regarding the remote support provided, Amanda considered it inadequate, stating that her husband’s condition worsened despite seeking additional help. The ECB has been reached out to for their input on the matter.