Graveney playing down rumours of team crisis (9 August 1999)

9 August 1999

Graveney playing down rumours of team crisis

Peter Deeley

As the crisis over recent England performances deepened, David Graveney, the chairman of selectors, last night expressed his concern at the apparent leaking of recent decisions concerning selection.

Graveney was asked if it was true he had voted against the inclusion of Graeme Hick in the present Test. "As chairman the responsibility of selecting the team is down to me," Graveney answered. "When discussions are complete we [the selectors] are in complete agreement.

"It's disappointing that people make comments about confidential meetings - much of it untrue".

Earlier in the day Graveney met Duncan Fletcher, England's new coach, who slipped unobtrusively into Old Trafford during play. He talked with board executives and then departed.

Graveney was present at last night's Manchester dinner organised by the ECB to welcome Fletcher, along with Lord MacLaurin, the board chairman, Nasser Hussain, England captain and Brian Bolus, the chairman of the England management advisory committee.

In view of England's recent poor showing against New Zealand the get-together has been billed as a crisis meeting though Graveney denied this.

However, the absence of selectors Graham Gooch and Mike Gatting could be an indication that their roles will be up for discussion.

Graveney said as far as he was aware Gooch and Gatting would still be part of the selection process for the final Oval Test in 10 days' time, and would not be drawn into speculation on their future.

At the ground Fletcher waited until England had gone out to field before visiting the home dressing-room. It was explained that he had not wanted to get in the way of the "team environment".

Fletcher said later: "I came to meet Hussain and the members of the England team management.

"There is no agenda for the dinner. It would be wrong for me to comment yet on our fortunes, though we have a lot of work still to do in this present Test."

None within the England backroom set-up can have been under any illusion about the apathy with which the public have treated this game. Only 4,000 turned up at Old Trafford yesterday.

Source :: Electronic Telegraph (https://www.telegraph.co.uk)