Touched by Greatness

The Story of Tom Graveney, England's Much Loved Cricketer

Andrew Murtagh

• Publisher: Pitch Publishing
• eBook ISBN:
  9781909626249
• Year: 2014

Tom Graveney, by virtue of his peerless batsmanship, gracious manner, and longevity in the game, is now a national treasure—the favorite cricketer of so many fellow players, enthusiasts, and aficionados. He opened the batting for England with Len 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 facade 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.

Table of contents

• Cover Page
• Title Page
• Copyright Page
• Contents
• Foreword
• Preface
• Spiritual Home
• Acknowledgements
• 1. Early Days 1927–45
• 2. Army 1945–48
• 3. The Young County Player 1948–51
• 4. Playing For England 1951–54
• 5. Family Life And Cricket 1950–61
• 6. Seasoned International – The First Incarnation 1954–59
• 7. The Day Job – Gloucestershire 1954–60
• 8. County Champions – Worcestershire 1961–70
• 9. Out Of The Wilderness – England 1966–69
• 10. Life After Cricket 1970–94
• 11. Mr President 1994–2006
• Epilogue: Tom Graveney
• Photographs