Graveney Defies Selectors

Press, Volume CIX, Issue 32016, 17 June 1969, Page 17

Graveney Defies Selectors

(N.Z. Press Assn.—Copyright) LONDON. The senior test batsman, T. W. Graveney, defied England’s selectors on Sunday and played in a match arranged to boost his benefit fund. His decision earned him £lOOO. But, the “Sun" newspaper reported, it could have cost Graveney his future as an England player. Graveney, who was 42 yesterday, is in the England team in the present test against the West Indies at Old Trafford, Manchester. The match he played in was at Luton. ' The chairman of England’s selectors and also the team’s manager (Mr A. Bedser) said: “Graveney asked me for permission to play in the match and I refused. I also told the match organiser I could not allow Graveney to play. “I shall have to consider what is to be done. It is normal procedure for such matters to go before a disciplinary committee.” The newspaper said Graveney, captain of Worcestershire, had broken a principle established for years that'no England player should appear in another match while a test was being played. Apart from the risk of injury, there was the likelihood that an official release for him would mean a flood of requests from counties wanting their test men for Sunday league games. Graveney said on Sunday night that he had to let the benefit match organisers know before he went on tour during the winter that he was available. He had told the M.C.C. secretary (Mr S. C. Griffith) and Mr Bedser that he was committed to appear in the game. He was quoted as saying: “Before the team for the first test was announced I reminded the chairman of selectors that' I would be playing in the match.” He added: “I am extremely sorry that the two dates clashed.” Graveney was guaranteed £lOOO for his personal appearance by the organiser, a millionaire businessman, Mr A. Hunt, who is chairman of the Luton Town Football Club. It was as much as he would

receive from a five-month tour of Australia, or £3OO more than if he played in all six tests against the West Indies and New Zealand.