Why Are England Players Wearing White Headbands At Oval?

The headbands are a tribute to former England batsman Graham Thorpe on what would have been his 56th birthday. The special day at The Oval, titled ‘A Day for Thorpey’, is raising funds and awareness for the mental health charity Mind.

August 1, 2025: On what would have been his 56th birthday, former England cricketer Graham Thorpe was honored by the cricketing world with a heartfelt tribute at The Oval. In a touching display, England players and fans in the stands wore white headbands with a blue embroidery of a celebrating batter and the initials “GT,” a nod to the iconic headbands Thorpe himself wore during his playing days.

The event, titled “A Day for Thorpey,” was organized by his home club, Surrey, to celebrate his life and legacy. The headbands were sold to raise funds for the mental health charity Mind, a poignant gesture given Thorpe’s long struggle with depression before his passing last year.

Known as “Mr. Dependable,” Thorpe was a gritty middle-order batsman who played 100 Tests for England, scoring 6,744 runs. His former teammate Nasser Hussain paid tribute to him in a column for The Daily Mail, praising his strength and calling him “the toughest” character. “It was a reminder of how much of a part mental illness plays in sport and how even the toughest characters aren’t immune,” Hussain wrote.

While the tribute took center stage, the match itself saw pacer Gus Atkinson claim five wickets, as India’s first innings collapsed for 224 on Day 2 of the fifth and final Test.