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The widow of former cricketer Graham Thorpe says he would still be alive if he had received more support from the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) after leaving his coaching role.
Mr Thorpe, one of the most respected players of his generation and a former England assistant coach, took his own life in August 2024 after suffering from anxiety and depression.
The ECB funded his treatment and hospital stay and extended his health insurance after he left in February 2022, but his widow Amanda Thorpe said his mental health deteriorated in the months that followed, the coroner said.
The ECB said it had met Ms Thorpe to discuss her concerns and had been in regular contact with her and her wider family.
An inquest at Surrey Coroner’s Court in Woking in July heard that Mr Thorpe “went into a state of depression” after losing his job as batting coach following the Ashes defeat in Australia.
The inquest heard that he had attempted suicide on another occasion.
Coroner Jonathan Stevens said there were “failures” in the care provided by health workers in the months before his death and he recorded a finding of suicide.
Ms Thorpe said she believed more could have been done to help him feel better connected during the transition period.
She told TalkSPORT if “the rug of his entire cricket career hadn’t been pulled completely out from under him… then it’s clear to me that he would still be alive, so that would have made a huge difference”.
She added: “It happened too late, and no one got a crystal ball, but it was just too much – the abyss, the complete mental breakdown of ‘I’m not in that family anymore.’
“If he had a little bit of a support framework there to lean on a little bit just to transition a little bit more, that would have made a big difference.”
Ms Thorpe said the remote support provided was “disappointing” and did not go further.
She added: “As he was going through these sessions, it was clear that he was not coping. His condition was getting worse.”
“We really asked for help. I knew he needed more help than that and it wasn’t there.”
An ECB spokesman said: “Graham was not only one of England’s greatest cricketers, but also someone who was greatly admired and much loved.
“His loss has had a profound impact on the cricket community and beyond, and our thoughts and sincere sympathies remain with his wife Amanda, his children and all those who loved him.
“Graham’s death is a heartbreaking reminder of the challenges many face in relation to mental health. His death was examined by a coroner. The inquest was carried out earlier this year with the full support of the ECB.
“We have met with Amanda to discuss her concerns and have been in regular contact with her and the wider family.”
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