Tom Graveney

Infobox Historic Cricketer


nationality = English
country = England
country abbrev = ENG
name = Tom Graveney
picture = Cricket_no_pic.pngbatting style = Right-hand bat
bowling style = Legbreak
tests = 79
test runs = 4882
test bat avg = 44.38
test 100s/50s = 11/20
test top score = 258
test balls = 260
test wickets = 1
test bowl avg = 167.00
test 5s = -
test 10s = -
test best bowling = 1/34
test catches/stumpings = 80/-
FCs = 732
FC runs = 47793
FC bat avg = 44.91
FC 100s/50s = 122/233
FC top score = 258
FC balls = 5479
FC wickets = 80
FC bowl avg = 37.96
FC 5s = 1
FC 10s = -
FC best bowling = 5/28
FC catches/stumpings = 553/1
debut date = 5 July
debut year = 1951
last date = 12 June
last year = 1969
source = http://content-aus.cricinfo.com/ci/content/player/13434.html

Thomas William Graveney (born June 16 1927) in Riding Mill, Northumberland, is a former English cricketer and was the President of the Marylebone Cricket Club for 2004/5.

Graveney played for Gloucestershire County Cricket Club (Captain 1959–1960), Worcestershire County Cricket Club (Captain 1969–1970), Queensland and England in 79 Tests. Graveney was a Wisden Cricketer of the Year in 1953.

Graveney captained England on one occasion, standing in for Colin Cowdrey in the drawn fourth Test match against the Australians at Headingley in 1968. Coincidentally, the opposing captain, Barry Jarman, who stood in for the injured Bill Lawry, also only captained his country in this one Test. he was one of Wisden's five cricketers of the year in 1953.

Graveney is the uncle of the former England chairman of selectors, David Graveney, and the brother of Ken Graveney.

Tom Graveney was President of the Marylebone Cricket Club in 2005. He was the first man who was a professional cricketer in the era before the abolition of the amateur / professional distinction, to be so honoured.

An elegant batsman, Graveney was among the leading players of his generation. Commencing his career with Gloucestershire after the Second World War Graveney joined Worcestershire in 1961 after he was replaced as captain by CTM Pugh. Graveney left County cricket after the 1970 season but made a handful of appearances for Queensland where he acted as coach.

Graveney was a regular test cricketer throughout the 1950s. Graveney appeared in at least one match in every home test series from 1951 until 1958 as well as touring Australia three times(1954-5, 1958-9, 1962-3) and the West Indies twice(1953-4 and 1967-8). In addition he visited Pakistan in 1968-9 as vice captain having been there as part of the lengthy Indian tour in 1951-2. Regaining his place after a three year absence in the last Test Match of 1966, Graveney finally left International Cricket after playing a benefit match on the rest day of the First test against the West Indies in 1969, when he scored 75. Graveney was suspended for this breach of regulations and did not play again.

Generally speaking it can be said that Graveney was a more consistent batsman in Test cricket after 1960. Dominating performances in India and at home against the 1957 West Indians when he made 258 at Trent Bridge contrasted with averages under 40 in eight out of thirteen series. In only two did he average over fifty. from 1962 he bettered fifty in five out of nine series and averaged at least forty in two others.

Graveney's play was dominated by superb front foot strokes. However he had enough technique against the quick bowlers to open the England batting regularly in the early part of his career. He passed 1000 runs in a season on twenty occasions, making more than 2000 six times. In 1964 he scored his hundredth hundred and in all scored 47793 runs.
During the early 1950s, Graveney was a useful wrist spinner.

He captained Gloucestershire in 1959 and 60, whilst he led Worcestershire from 1968 until he retired in 1970.

External reference

* [http://www.cricinfo.com/db/PLAYERS/ENG/G/GRAVENEY_TW_01000895/ Cricinfo page on Tom Graveney]