Graham Thorpe MBE

Graham played cricket for Surrey and England. Naturally right-handed in everything but batting, when he was six years old he changed his stance to make it harder for his two elder brothers to get him out and because the boundary in his garden was shorter on the leg-side for a left-hander. He made his debut for Surrey in 1988, and his international debut in 1993. He scored a century in the second innings of his debut Test match, against Australia at Trent Bridge. Developing into a very highly-regarded player, he was named as one of the Wisden Cricketers of the Year in 1998.
Graham hit only one four in his hundred against Pakistan at Lahore in November 2000. It also contained seven threes, 12 twos and 51 singles. He hit another boundary before being dismissed for 118 from 301 balls. No other batsman has scored 100 runs in a Test with just one boundary. However, he was also a capable stroke-maker: during his highest Test score, 200 not out off 231 balls against New Zealand at Christchurch in 2002, he and Andrew Flintoff compiled a partnership of 281 in 51 overs.

Graham announced his retirement from Test cricket and domestic cricket in 2005 and took up a coaching role in Australia where he served New South Wales as a batting coach for two seasons starting in 2005/6 and played for UTS-Balmain in the Sydney First Grade competition. He was then named as assistant coach of New South Wales in 2007 replacing Matthew Mott who was promoted to the position of coach.

He then moved into media and made his debut as a summariser for BBC Radio's Test Match Special programme during the first test of India's 2007 tour of England. He also appeared as a match summariser on Sky Sports' highlights coverage for the same series. He has written a monthly column for the UK-based cricket magazine, SPIN World Cricket Monthly, since December 2006.

In 2008 he was appointed batting coach for Surrey, he continues to appear on Sky Sports and is now proving to be a popular figure on the after dinner circuit. Graham also speaks at many corporate events where companies ask him to speak on such topics as Motivation, Teamwork. & Leadership. Having performed at the highest level against the best in the world in his sport, he can tell of the drive, focus and commitment that a person needs to achieve their potential and reach the very top.