Star line-up for Graveney

Star line-up for Graveney

A star-studded cricketing line-up was at Lord's to launch Andrew Murtagh's new book Touched by Greatness: The Story of Tom Graveney, England’s Much Loved Cricketer.

 

The former England opener was present and he was joined by a number of associates and colleagues from his time at Gloucestershire, Worcestershire and the MCC.

 

Graveney and his family, Sir Tim Rice, Mike Gatting, Paul Downton, ECB chief executive David Collier, MCC chairman Oliver Stocken, MCC chief executive Derek Brewer, Mike Vockins, Duncan Fearnley, Norman Gifford, Tony Brown and David Allen were all present to celebrate the book's launch.

 

Tom is the last surviving member of Len Hutton's team that won back the Ashes in 1953, Graveney, by virtue of his peerless batsmanship, gracious manner and longevity in the game, is now a national treasure – the favourite cricketer of so many fellow players, enthusiasts and aficionados. 

 

He opened the batting for England with Hutton early in his career and ended it batting with Geoffrey Boycott, thus straddling two generations. After retirement, he shone as a BBC commentator and latterly served as president of his beloved Worcestershire and of the MCC.

 

Oft misunderstood, the character behind the legendary raconteur's affable façade is now effortlessly unlocked in this first-hand account of his life by close friend and fellow former professional cricketer, Andrew Murtagh.

 

The details of many incidents, anecdotes and controversies have never before been shared – sackings and banishments, redemption and a glorious international 'second coming' – revealing Graveney as a fount of cricketing insight and as a true entertainer, at the fireside as at the crease.

 

· As Tom Graveney's close personal friend, Andrew Murtagh has enjoyed constant, unfettered and unprecedented access to his subject.

 

·  Making full use of Graveney's extraordinary powers of recall and his legendary expertise as a raconteur, Andrew was able to chronicle the story of his long and eventful life.

 

· The book features a host of new revelations and insights. Graveney is at an age when he feels comfortable telling it as he saw it, as accurately and as honestly as he can.

 

Click here for more information on Touched by Greatness.