GRAHAM Thorpe’s wife Amanda helped give the England legend stability and stop matters off the field from “eating away at him”.

Cricket icon Thorpe, who played for England in 100 Test Matches and 82 One Day International games, has died at age 55 following a serious health battle.

Ex-England international cricketer Mike Atherton once said that, of all the athletes he played with, Thorpe was the one “whose state of mind most affected his play”.

He added: “A happy, contented Graham Thorpe is a world-class player, his presence beneficial to any team.

“If something off the field is eating away at him, he cannot put it to the back of his mind and concentrate on his cricket.”

Thorpe’s second wife Amanda would help provide the stability he needed to continue excelling in the sport.

The couple married in 2007, two years after welcoming a daughter in 2005.

Amanda also has an older daughter from a previous relationship.

The pair kept their home life extremely private. It is not known how the couple met or what she does for a living.

Thorpe had married his first wife Nicole in 1995, but they divorced in 2002.

During their relationship the pair welcomed a son and daughter, born in 1996 and 1999 respectively.

The celebrated batsman made his international debut in 1993 and scored a century on his first Ashes appearance, becoming the first England player to do so in 20 years.

Thorpe was an England regular and went on to play 100 Tests, scoring 16 centuries and featuring 82 times for the ODI side, as well as enjoying a 17-year career with Surrey.

His final Test appearance came in June 2005 before he was omitted from that summer’s victorious Ashes series and called time on his international career.

A statement from the England and Wales Cricket Board read: “It is with great sadness that we share the news that Graham Thorpe, MBE, has passed away.

“There seem to be no appropriate words to describe the deep shock we feel at Graham’s death.

“More than one of England’s finest-ever batters, he was a beloved member of the cricket family and revered by fans all over the world.

“His skill was unquestioned, and his abilities and achievements across a 13-year international career brought so much happiness to his teammates and England and Surrey CCC supporters alike.

“Later, as a coach, he guided the best England Men’s talent to some incredible victories across all formats of the game.

“The cricket world is in mourning today. Our hearts go out to his wife Amanda, his children, father Geoff, and all of his family and friends during this unimaginably difficult time. We will always remember Graham for his extraordinary contributions to the sport.”

Thorpe stayed in the game after his retirement from playing, moving to New South Wales where he worked with a young Steve Smith and David Warner.

He returned to work with England between 2010 and 2022.

Thorpe took charge of his country in the familiar surroundings of the Sydney Cricket Ground after Chris Silverwood was laid low by coronavirus, securing a nailbiting draw to avoid a seemingly inevitable Ashes whitewash.

Steve Elworthy, Surrey chief executive, said “Everyone associated with the club is devastated by the tragic news of Graham’s passing. He achieved remarkable feats for club and country and was a hero to so many cricket fans.

“Our thoughts and condolences are with Graham’s family and friends, to whom we will offer any support that we are able to. We ask that everyone respects the privacy of the family at this incredibly difficult time.”

The Professional Cricketers’ Association shared a statement on behalf of Thorpe’s family in May 2022, saying the England legend had “fallen seriously ill” and was in hospital receiving treatment.

“His prognosis is unclear at this stage… our thoughts are with Graham and his family,” the statement read.