CRICKET lovers have paid their respects to Tom Graveney who passed away at the age of 88 after a brave battle against Parkinson’s disease.
Graveney is one of three Worcestershire batsman to feature in the top 30 of the highest scorers of all-time in first class cricket, coming in at number eight.
The former England player amassed 47,793 runs at an average of 44.91 and his tally included 122 centuries and 233 fifties.
Among the first to pay tribute was current Pears skipper Daryl Mitchell who tweeted: “Sad to lose someone who’s had such a huge impact on our clubs history and a lovely man! RIP Tom Graveney.”
And Alex Gidman, who like Graveney made the journey from Gloucestershire to New Road tweeted his sympathies: “Extremely sad to hear that @Gloscricket and @WorcsCCC legend Tom Graveney has passed away- such a lovely, down to earth man.”
Worcestershire President Lord Mervyn King of Lothbury paid a moving tribute to Graveney and reflected on summer’s watching him bat during the 1960s which included his 100th century at New Road.
He eventually became friends with Graveney and spoke at his inaugral dinner after becoming the President of the MCC.
“It is a very sad day for all Worcestershire people. We learnt that Tom Graveney had passed away. At 88, he had a good innings, but if anyone deserved a century it was Tom.
“He scored many of them, and I was honoured to see him score his hundredth hundred at New Road.
“As a small boy, I admired him from afar; as a man I was privileged to be admitted to his friendship.
“His memory of games in the distant past was phenomenal,”
“When he became President of the MCC, he invited me to speak at his inaugural dinner. His pride at taking office was visible, as was his humility in joining a long line of distinguished occupants of that office.
“Tom represented everything best in the world of cricket.
“There were few more pleasurable ways to spend time than sitting with Tom watching cricket at New Road. I shall miss him greatly,” he said.
Former England opener Geoffrey Boycott hailed Graveney his ‘boyhood idol’ while fellow Test Match Special commentator Jonathan Agnew tweeted: “Never saw Tom Graveney bat, but he is synonymous with a golden era of England batsmen.
“Loved a chat in the bar and lived for cricket RIP,” he added.
England’s cricketers wore black armbands during the final test against Pakistan and ECB chairman Colin Graves paid his repects to a ‘true gentleman’.
“I count myself privileged to have seen Tom Graveney bat. He was one of the game’s great stylists; a batsman whose name became synonymous with elegance and whose perfectly executed cover drive will live long in the memory of those who saw it.
“He was also a true gentleman; someone who served our county game with distinction and who, later in life, gave back much to the game he so dearly loved by becoming MCC President.
“We send our condolences to his family, and to all his many friends and former colleagues within the world of cricket, both in this country and overseas,” he added.
