Star England batter and former captain Joe Root has paid a heartfelt tribute to late English great Graham Thorpe, acknowledging the profound impact Thorpe had on his career. Thorpe, who passed away at the age of 55, was a mainstay of the English batting lineup throughout the late 1990s and early 2000s.
Root, who worked closely with Thorpe during his time with the England Lions and later with the senior team, described Thorpe as a “complete batter” and a “rockstar” who could adapt to any situation. He credited Thorpe with helping him improve his game, particularly in subcontinent conditions.
“He was one of the players that stood out in that time [for England in the 1990s and early 2000s]. He was one of the guys that consistently performed when things were tough and when results were not always going in our favour, which I think is a great quality to have,” said Root.
Root also highlighted Thorpe’s role in developing the next generation of England batters, including skipper Ben Stokes. “He had a huge influence on my career and arguably without his backing and pushing my case, I may not have had the career I have had,” said Root.
Thorpe’s coaching style was characterized by his attention to fundamentals and his ability to connect with each batter on an individual level. “There were certain fundamentals that he was big on – can you get really close to the ball and far away from it? – but he did not have one way of coaching,” said Root.
Beyond his technical guidance, Thorpe also provided valuable off-field support to Root. “Some of the best lessons I learned were not necessarily in the nets but over dinner or a few glasses of wine, just talking about the game, about shared experiences people can relate to,” said Root.
Root concluded his tribute by emphasizing Thorpe’s legacy as both a player and a coach. “A lot will and should be talked about how brilliant a player he was for a long period of time, but we should remember the impact he has had on English cricket as a fantastic coach as well,” said Root.
