1 CD, Tom Graveney, cricketer and commentator interviewed by Alastair Lack. The CD consists of 2 tracks.
Track 1: [0:15-1:50] Graveney talks about his sporting family, his childhood in cricket and playing multiple sports on national service, [1:51-3:20] Graveney talks about how he came to play for Gloucestershire after National Service, [3:21-3:49] Graveney talks about making his debut for Gloucestershire, [3:50-5:17] Graveney talks about his first season in county cricket including being dropped.
[5:17-6:19] Graveney talks about travelling for county matches and buying his first car, [6:20-8:05] Graveney talks about being called up for England and making his debut, [8:06-9:02] Graveney talks about being picked on the MCC tour to India and Ceylon 1951-1952 and consequently being recalled for England, [9:03-10:29] Graveney talks about playing in the first Test of 1953 Ashes Test series against Australia, [10:30-11:06] Graveney talks about facing Keith Miller and Ray Lindwall, [11:07-11:34] Graveney talks about the win at the Oval in the 1953 Ashes series and crowd celebrations.
[11:35-14:02] Graveney talks about the MCC tour to West Indies 1953-1954, crowd troubles and the leadership of Len Hutton, [14:03-14:44] Graveney says Gary Sobers was the greatest cricketer he came across. [14:45-15:15] Graveney talks about facing Wes Hall and Charlie Griffiths, [15:16-15:38] Graveney laments his pour record against Australia, [15:39-16:06] Graveney talks about the Australian style of playing and quality fielding.
[16:07-18:06] Graveney talks about the difficulties in leaving Gloucestershire, how not being able to play in the 1961 gave him a rest and being in peak form for Worcestershire and England in 1962, [18:07-18:50] Graveney talks about the pitch at Worcestershire and praises the captaincy of Don Kenyon, [18:51-19:51] Graveney talks about not being a good captain and the bowling attack for Gloucestershire, [19:51-21:36] Graveney talks about his form for Worcestershire, winning county championships, being recalled for England at the age of 39 and how he believed he was the best batsman in the country.
[21:37-22:09] Graveney talks about enjoying batting off the front foot, [22:10-23:14] Graveney talks about never being hit on the head by a ball, [23:15-24:07] Graveney talks about not being particularly coached and the difference in pitches compared to modern times, [24:08-24:34] Graveney talks about Alec Bedser's cutters, [24:35-26:66] Graveney talks about the MCC tour to India 1951-1952 being his favourite tour, drinking clean water and getting ill, [26:67-28:37] Graveney talks about the MCC tour in Australia 1954-1955, highlighting the bowling of Brian Statham, Frank Tyson and Bob Appleyard and making a century [28:38-30:42] Graveney talks about Len Hutton; how he said he didn’t like people with red faces, how Hutton asked him numerous times to not bat aggressively and his defensive style.
[30:43-31:56] Graveney talks about playing under Richie Benaud on the Commonwealth tours, the best tour he went on was to the West Indies 1967-1968 under Colin Cowdrey and beating the West Indies despite facing Gary Sobers, [31:57-33:01] Graveney talks about having time to yourself in West Indies, describes the riots on both his tours there and mentioning Lester Piggott getting excited, [33:02-35:04] Graveney talks about his experiences of captaining England, his preference for an aggressive style and facing a riot in Pakistan in 1969, [35:05-36:16] Graveney jokes his career lasted so long because of no qualifications in anything else and how he went to coach in Australia after leaving Worcestershire. [36:17-37:01] Graveney talks about his last first-class game, [37:02-37:39] Graveney talks about enjoying watching Denis Compton bat most, praising his style.
[37:40-38:36] Graveney says if he hadn’t gone to Australia he could have played two more years and being too old for Sunday League cricket, [38:37-40:31] Graveney talks about the modern game; praises Twenty20 cricket but emphasises the need to get balance in fixture lists and touring parties being too large comparing them to his time, [40:32-42:15] Graveney talks about enjoying playing at Lords's, playing against South Africa in 1955 and facing the bowling of Peter Heine, Neil Adock and Trevor Goddard, [42:16-43:22] Graveney talks about Jim Laker and how he became a cricket commentator, [43:22-44:01] Graveney talks about his style of commentary compared to modern commentators, [44:02-45:44] Graveney talks about his experiences of being MCC President and playing against the 1947-1948 Australian tour of England. [45:46-46:16] [Graveney is called away, microphone noises].
Track 2 [0:00-1:00] Graveney talks subbing for Tom Goddard against the Australians at Bristol on request of Lindsay Hassett. [1:01-3:44] Graveney talks about the 2005 Ashes series and how he wishes he could play against Shane Warne and successes against spin bowling.