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A tribute by Karthik Narayan on Graham Thorpe reaching the hundredth test mark
 

A Century in the game of cricket has various connotations – to the batsman, it means a valuable innings, cherished and memorable for many seasons, match-winning even. To a bowler, it means a very important landmark galloping him into the Hall of Fame. And then there is a century of matches – that is something unbeatable by any means.

Nothing beats seeing your name on the team cards one hundred times is a feat that envies any player. That much time, endurance and pressure of performance, and then that much patience and fitness all involved in that magical three figure mark of 100 test appearances. There aren’t as many as one would expect, the big guns faltering now and then, and injury all takes its toll to getting to that coveted mark. Now that benchmark beckons a Pom, a cricketer who has always given his team his best and then yet not a superman; ever the underdog, and yet always smiling and having a say in his team’s good fortunes has been Graham Thorpe.
 

Profitable methods of playing cricket have been overgrowing the time tested methods of grafting, and new strokes are invented for the sake of valuable runs. But then, those old timers such as Thorpe shall stick their necks in, graft is the very middle name of this hard working cricketer. He always stays there, creates run scoring opportunities with good cricketing strokes, not the rash rush of blood to the head, not those grunting powerful sixers to get his runs and not slam bang in the least!

Thorpe represents Surrey in the county and he is one of the best players for that team as well, in fact as a youngster he was so impressive that he was almost a certainty to play for England. Huge scores in the domestic circuits and a good temperament saw him break into the English team.

Ever since his debut against Australia at Trent Bridge, Nottingham in the 3rd Test Match in June 1993, he has always churned the runs in this manner, not flinching one bit to face any bowler, and always giving the team’s cause the highest priority. That explains his excellent test record, not a shirker for slugging time in the nets and waiting patiently for the bad balls by the bowlers.

In 100 tests, he has 6744 runs with 16 centuries, and with a highest score of 200*, which came against the New Zealand at Wellington five years ago.
 

In fact at one stage, he almost stole the cricket records with one of the fastest recorded double centuries in test cricket, when he scored a double ton off 231 balls . But then Nathan Astle stole it from under his nose in the same test match by knocking 222 runs in just 168 balls with 11 big sixes.

Negotiating good balls while dispatching the bad ones is the hallmark for any good test batsman, this was what has been making Thorpe to stay through turbulent times in the English season and always being amongst the best players of the team season after season.

A solid middle order batsman who has almost all the shots in the cricketing manual and who spits into the bowlers’ arms and doesn’t care to look back at lost causes with a never say die attitude, this guy has given it all, irrespective of what people tell him to do, what the critics despise him for – all because he has presented mind over matter, and been a good guy to his critics so that they may salt their shoes before eating them out themselves.

Technique and temperament are the reasons why Graham Thorpe has managed to extend his lease of life as an England cricketer all these years and also perform solidly giving them a backup and never giving up the fight. It was many of his resolute knocks that have saved face for England, and the wars waged by him with some of the great fast bowlers of the 1990’s have been a delight to watch.

Time has evolved faster than memories register it, and now it is time to keep tabs on this cricketer who has blended with the background and now has crept on to this mark. Definitely, this bloke deserves all the applause and the appreciation by the tabloids. We at Cricketfundas.com extend our warm regards for a sweet tangerine player who calls for a nice warm salute.

 

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