Within the opening Take a look at of Sri Lanka‘s three-match-tour of England, Sri Lanka received the toss and elected to bat first at Outdated Trafford. As play commenced on Day 1, England’s gamers have been seen carrying black armbands in a heartfelt tribute to their former cricketer and coach, Graham Thorpe, who not too long ago handed away. The armbands symbolize the staff’s deep respect and remembrance for the late cricketing legend as they honor his reminiscence all through the match.
England captain Ollie Pope’s perspective
To honor Thorpe’s reminiscence, the England staff has earlier introduced they are going to put on black armbands throughout the first Take a look at in opposition to Sri Lanka. In a touching tribute, England’s stand-in captain Ollie Pope confirmed that the staff would pay their respects to the late Thorpe with a pre-match ceremony and that the gamers would proceed to put on black armbands all through the sport.
“We’ll have our black armbands on all through the course of the sport, and there can be a tribute to him earlier than. It’s damage lots of people in that altering room. He was an awesome man. I in all probability had two or three years taking part in with him as a batting coach. I admired him,” Pope was quoted as saying by ESPNcricinfo.
Thorpe’s surprising passing has despatched ripples of grief by means of the cricketing neighborhood, with many gamers, coaches, and followers paying their respects to a person who gave a lot to the game. The loss has struck a very deep chord throughout the England staff, the place Thorpe was a well-known and beloved determine each on and off the sphere.
Additionally READ: ENG vs SL: Drama in Machester as Sri Lankan staff evacuated after false hearth alarm
Exceptional profession for England
Thorpe was an iconic determine in English cricket, revered for each his contributions as a participant and his affect as a coach. As a batter, Thorpe was extensively admired for his class and reliability on the crease, representing England in 100 Take a look at matches and 82 One Day Internationals. Over his profession, he amassed 6,744 Take a look at runs, incomes him a fame as considered one of England’s most interesting middle-order gamers.
Following his taking part in profession, Thorpe transitioned into teaching, the place he additional cemented his legacy, serving as England’s batting coach and assistant coach, serving to form the following technology of cricketers.
England vs Sri Lanka
England can be with out their captain, Ben Stokes, who’s at present sidelined as a result of a hamstring damage. In his absence, Pope will lead the facet, with Harry Brook performing as his deputy. England have opted for a pace-heavy assault, that includes 4 seamers and only one spinner, Shoaib Bashir. With opener Zak Crawley additionally unavailable as a result of damage, Dan Lawrence is ready to companion with Ben Duckett on the high of the order.
The England staff enter the sequence on the again of a Take a look at sequence win in opposition to the West Indies, and they are going to be trying to construct on that momentum as they goal to climb the World Take a look at Championship standings. Regardless of their present challenges, the staff stays targeted on securing a victory, pushed by the reminiscence of Thorpe and the inspiration he offered all through his profession.
