England cricketers wore black armbands in 2023 as a tribute to the late Graham Thorpe, a former England cricketer and coach who passed away on August 4, 2023. Thorpe was a highly respected figure in English cricket, having scored over 6,700 runs in 100 Test matches and also serving as a batting coach for the team. The black armbands were worn during the first Test against Sri Lanka at Old Trafford in August 2023 to honor his memory and contributions to the game. Thorpe's death was particularly tragic as he took his own life after battling major depression and anxiety.
