Joe Root, England’s premier Test batsman, recently celebrated a milestone by scoring his 33rd Test century during the second Test against Sri Lanka at Lord’s. Root, who now leads active cricketers in Test centuries, dedicated this remarkable achievement to the late Graham Thorpe, the former England cricketer and mentor who passed away earlier this month after a battle with depression.
Root’s innings of 143 at Lord’s was not just a testament to his skill but also a tribute to Thorpe, who had a significant impact on his career. After the match, Root expressed his deep gratitude and respect for Thorpe, describing him as a crucial figure in his development as a cricketer.
“I’ve been very lucky to work with a lot of people, whether it be senior players, coaches, mentors, and Thorpey was one of those people who offered me so much,” Root said. “It was nice to be able to think of him in that moment. He’s someone I’m sorely going to miss, and who I owe a lot to. He put a lot into my game, into my career, and without his help I definitely wouldn’t be where I am now.”
Thorpe’s influence on Root’s career was profound. Root revealed that Thorpe’s belief in his potential led to his inclusion in the England Lions squad, which was a pivotal step in his cricketing journey. Thorpe worked extensively with Root on refining his technique against both pace and spin, which Root credits as a major factor in his development as a player.
Root recalled their first encounter during a second-team game at Stamford Bridge for Yorkshire against Surrey in 2010. Thorpe, then involved with the England Lions, quickly recognized Root’s talent and selected him for a Lions game against Sri Lanka at Scarborough the following year, even before Root had scored a hundred at the first-class level.
“Thorpe saw something in me and pushed hard for me to go away that winter and work with him. We worked tirelessly on my game against spin – being able to get close to the ball, get away from it, utilising different sweeps – and also against pace,” Root mentioned. “He worked very hard to make sure that those areas of the game which are different from county cricket, I was up to speed with.”
Root’s dedication of his century to Thorpe is a heartfelt acknowledgment of the mentor’s role in shaping his illustrious career. The impact of Thorpe’s guidance is evident in Root’s continued success and the respect he holds for his late mentor.
