Cricket

England's Test series against Sri Lanka, commencing in Manchester on Wednesday, will be marked by a poignant tribute to the late Graham Thorpe. Thorpe, a legendary English batter and former coach, tragically took his own life at 55 due to severe depression and anxiety.Thorpe's impact on English cricket was profound. With an impressive Test average of 44.66, he was one of England's most accomplished batters. He later served as their batting coach and assistant coach, mentoring many current squad members, including Joe Root and Ben Stokes.Stokes, now England's captain, paid tribute to Thorpe by wearing a shirt bearing his name during his first Test as full-time captain. Ollie Pope, standing in for Stokes, expressed the team's deep sorrow: "He was a great man... He's such a sad loss to everyone."The teams will observe a moment of applause before the national anthems at Emirates Old Trafford, accompanied by a tribute video on the big screens. Sky Sports will also honor Thorpe, who was a close friend and former teammate to many of their commentators.Thorpe's death has been ruled as a result of traumatic injuries sustained after being struck by a train. An inquest into his death is ongoing.In addition to the Thorpe tribute, Lancashire will recognize James Anderson's illustrious career throughout the Test. Anderson will ring the bell before play and be celebrated during the lunch interval. The club has sold a significant number of advance tickets, with Friday's match already sold out.

Indian Cricket Team Honors Late Anshuman Gaekwad with Black ArmbandsThe Indian cricket team paid a heartfelt tribute to former batsman and coach Anshuman Gaekwad, who passed away on Wednesday at the age of 71, by wearing black armbands during the opening ODI of the three-match series against Sri Lanka in Colombo on Friday.Gaekwad, a renowned figure in Indian cricket, had been battling blood cancer for an extended period. His demise sent shockwaves through the cricketing fraternity, with tributes pouring in from all corners.The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) released a statement expressing its condolences: "Team India is wearing black armbands today in memory of former Indian cricketer and coach Aunshuman Gaekwad, who passed away on Wednesday."Indian captain Rohit Sharma shared his grief and admiration for Gaekwad: "I was absolutely devastated to hear that news. I was lucky to have a few conversations with him during the BCCI awards, and on a personal note as well."Sharma recalled Gaekwad's guidance during his Ranji Trophy days: "When I was playing Ranji Trophy, he was there and he had a few things to talk about my game as well, which was overwhelming for me because he was such a great cricketer for us.""It's always nice when you learn from your seniors, understand how cricket was played back in the day, how tough it was and then to pass on his experiences on cricket and what his visions are about cricket. For me to understand that was a great learning at that point," Sharma added.Gaekwad's legacy extends beyond his playing career. As a coach, he played a pivotal role in shaping the careers of several young cricketers, including Sachin Tendulkar. His contributions to Indian cricket will be forever remembered.

Worcestershire County Cricket Club will honor the memory of their late left-arm spinner Josh Baker by wearing his No. 33 on their playing shirts for the remainder of the season. Baker, who had made two County Championship appearances this season, passed away suddenly on May 2 at the age of 20.Baker was a highly promising cricketer who had represented England at under-19 level. He signed his first contract with Worcestershire in 2022 and had already made a significant impact on the team. In 22 first-class matches, he took 43 wickets, while in 25 limited-overs appearances, he claimed 27 wickets.The day before his passing, Baker had taken 3 for 66 in the first innings of Worcestershire's four-day 2nd XI Championship match against Somerset. The match was called off early on the final day as a mark of respect.Players wore black armbands during the most recent round of the County Championship, which began on May 3. Worcestershire declined to comment on the nature of Baker's death, asking for "the respect of privacy" on behalf of his family.After consulting with the family, Baker's teammates have decided to honor his memory by wearing his squad number on the front of their shirts, under the club crest."It is clear from the outpouring of love we've seen, following last week's awful news, that Josh touched the lives of everyone who had the privilege of knowing him," said Worcestershire CEO Ashley Giles in a statement released on Wednesday."Wearing Josh's number on their shirts is a way for the team, and all involved with Worcestershire cricket, to pay tribute to his memory and keep his spirit alive on the field.""Josh's mum and dad, Lisa and Paul, have asked us to thank everyone for the hundreds of messages of love and support that they have received since Josh's passing.""As we all continue to navigate through this very difficult time, we encourage our members, supporters, and the cricketing community to join us in honoring Josh's memory and celebrate the life of a remarkable young man who will forever hold a special place in our hearts."Worcestershire will wear the commemorative shirts for the first time on Friday, when they play Kent at Canterbury in Division One.