Graveney waits for players` verdict (19 Sep 1996)

19 September 1996

Graveney waits for players` verdict

By Richard Bright

DAVID GRAVENEY is awaiting clearance from the players` union before deciding whether he can make his pitch for the job vacated by Ray Illingworth.

Graveney is keen to combine his role of Cricketers` Association general secretary with a newly defined post of England chairman of selectors.

Tim Curtis, the association`s outgoing chairman, outlined at their annual meeting at Edgbaston why Graveney felt there would not be a clash of interests.

Curtis forced Graveney to withdraw from a head-to-head contest with Illingworth in March, and has always opposed the concept of such a job-share. But Curtis admitted last night that his attitude had moderated.

Delegates from each county will discuss the matter with their own players before formally voting at an executive meeting in three weeks` time.

Curtis said: "A final decision on David will be made before he goes away on the England `A` tour on Oct 23 - but my own view has changed from earlier this year.

"David`s vision of how the chairman of selectors` job will be done, should he be appointed, is very different from how Ray Illingworth did it.

"He sees it as a convenor`s role, a predominantly organisational one, and with management and coaching of the England team being totally separate.

"Under his proposals, he would not be in a salaried post - and, in fact, the Test and County Cricket Board would have to compensate the Cricketers` Association for lost time.

Middlesex captain Mike Gatting has been voted in as association president, and Kent`s Matthew Fleming has taken over from Curtis as chairman.

Curtis, who is planning to play one more season for Worcestershire, will be doing his best over the next four days to prevent Surrey adding the County Championship to the Sunday League title which they secured at the weekend.

Both Surrey and Kent, the only sides with a realistic chance of overhauling Leicestershire, may both be unchanged for their final games.

In the continued absence of Graham Kersey, with a broken thumb, Alec Stewart will keep wicket for Surrey, while Kent will select from the team who defeated Hampshire on Monday, plus Graham Cowdrey and Ben Phillips, when they take on Gloucestershire at Bristol.

Worcestershire`s pace bowling resources are severely stretched: left-armer Alamgir Sheriyar is out with a torn rib muscle and inexperienced seamers Scott Ellis and Paul Thomas are added to the squad.

Peter Hartley could lose his 100 per cent championship attendance record with Yorkshire this season by missing the match against Northamptonshire at Northampton. The seamer, who is in his benefit year, suffered a strained rib while bowling against Nottinghamshire at Scarborough.

Gavin Hamilton stands by to deputise and play in what would be only his second match of the summer in a major competition.

Durham have left batsman Darren Blenkiron out of their side for the match at Derby for disciplinary reasons. He is alleged to have been involved in an incident in which a club car suffered damage.

The club have promised a statement today following an internal inquiry.