IND vs ENG 5th Test: Why are players and fans wearing white headbands at The Oval?

TOI Sports Desk / TIMESOFINDIA.COM / Updated: Aug 01, 2025, 16:20 IST

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England honored Graham Thorpe on Day 2 of the fifth Test at The Oval, with players and fans wearing white headbands, commemorating his birth anniversary and raising mental health awareness. Thorpe, who played 100 Tests, was remembered for his resilience. India resumed at 204/6, with pacers Atkinson and Tongue making early breakthroughs.

IND vs ENG 5th Test: Why are players and fans wearing white headbands at The Oval?

Ben Stokes sporting a white headband in honour of the late Graham Thorpe (Images via X/@ABsay_ek & englandcricket)

The England players walked out wearing white headbands on Day 2 of the fifth Test at The Oval, a touching tribute to former England batter Graham Thorpe. Fans in the stands joined in too, many sporting the same headbands that Thorpe made iconic during his playing days. The gesture was part of a special day dedicated to Thorpe, who passed away on August 4, 2024. August 1 marks his birth anniversary, and the occasion is being used to raise awareness about mental health — a cause close to Thorpe and his family.

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Thorpe, who played 100 Tests for England, was known for his grit and calm presence in the middle order. He scored 6,744Test runs and was also an important figure in English domestic cricket with Surrey. After retirement, he served as a coach with England and other teams as well.

England v India - 5th Rothesay Test Match: Day Two

England players wear headbands in memory of ex England player and coach Graham Thorpe during Day Two of the 5th Test vs India at The Oval (Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images)

On the field, Josh Tongue started proceedings for England. India resumed on 204/6, after a mixed Day 1 under overcast skies. Recalled pacers Gus Atkinson and Tongue had done the damage early, while Shubman Gill was run out after a promising start. India’s assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate described the day as “fair,” and highlighted the importance of lower-order resistance from Karun Nair and Washington Sundar.

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The day, however, belonged to Thorpe, both as a cricketer and a symbol for a larger cause.

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TOI Sports Desk

The TOI Sports Desk excels in a myriad of roles that capture the essence of live sporting events and deliver compelling content to readers worldwide. From running live blogs for India and non-India cricket matches to global spectacles featuring Indian talents, like the Chess World Cup final featuring Praggnanandhaa and the Badminton World Championships semifinal featuring HS Prannoy, our live coverage extends to all mega sporting events. We extensively cover events like the Olympics, Asian Games, Cricket World Cups, FIFA World Cups, and more. The desk is also adept at writing comprehensive match reports and insightful post-match commentary, complemented by stats-based articles that provide an in-depth analysis of player performances and team dynamics. We track news wires for key stories, conduct exclusive player interviews in both text and video formats, and file content from print editions and reporters. We keep track of all viral stories, trending topics and produce our own copies on the subjects. We deliver accurate, engaging, and up-to-the-minute sports content, round the clock.

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