The English summer reached its peak on Wednesday as Sri Lanka took to the field in Manchester, aiming for their first Test victory against the highly-favored hosts in a decade.
The visitors saw an opportunity with first-choice opener Zak Crawley absent and Ollie Pope making his Test captaincy debut in place of the injured Ben Stokes.
However, before the anticipated clash could begin, the day started on a poignant note with a tribute to the late cricket legend Graham Thorpe.
As the players lined up for the anthem, a picture of Thorpe appeared on the big screen, prompting spontaneous applause from the crowd. The claps grew louder as the announcer honored the legacy of the former captain, culminating in a powerful and emotional tribute.
Thorpe had tragically taken his life in early August after a long struggle with mental health, a fact his family confirmed shortly after the incident.
A touching moment as both players and the crowd observe a moment of applause in remembrance of Graham Thorpe 👏❤ pic.twitter.com/hWrKzRuC6v
— Sky Sports Cricket (@SkyCricket) August 21, 2024
The tribute not only expressed gratitude to the cricketing great but also served as a stark reminder of the growing mental health crisis, as many on Twitter aptly highlighted.