Credit: England Cricket
The second day of the fifth Test between England and India is currently underway at The Oval in London. The Indian cricket team were bowled out by England during the first session of the second day and ended the first innings on a score of 224 runs. After that, the England cricket team looked in full flow as Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett have provided a flying start to the team, stitching together an opening stand of 92 runs in just under 13 overs. However, both of them have been sent back to the pavilion before India started to make a comeback into the contest in the second session of play with the ball in hand.
Before all that happened, England players were seen coming onto the ground at The Oval in London, wearing white headbands to start the second day. They were seen making this beautiful gesture to honour the late England cricketing legend Graham Thorpe as he would have been celebrating his 56th birthday today. Thorpe passed away at the age of 55 last year after getting hit by a speeding train, and his family later confirmed that that the former English international had committed suicide due to the mental issues that he had been facing.
Headbands were sold around the stadium to honour the memory of Graham Thorpe
The England cricket team wore the white headbands, to spread and create awareness of mental health as Thorpe tragically took his own life on August 4, 2024, following a prolonged battle with mental health issues. Thorpe suffered from severe depression and anxiety in the final years of his life, and he was admitted to intensive care following a suicide attempt in May 2022. Graham’s family is trying to create awareness about mental health so that other people do not have to face what he had to go through.
Many fans at The Oval in London were seen purchasing the white headbands to commemorate the memory of Graham Thorpe. Thorpe had played more than 100 Test matches for the England cricket team. Thorpe also played 82 ODIs, including appearances at the 1996 and 1999 ICC Cricket World Cups.
