Colin Graves, chairman of the England and Wales Cricket Board, has been awarded a CBE in the New Years Honours list.
“Colin has had a big impact on the game – both in his time as ECB chairman and prior to joining ECB at Yorkshire CCC,” said ECB CEO Tom Harrison. “He has demonstrated his passion for and commitment to the game, from his work at a grassroots level with Dunnington CC all the way up to the England teams and we’re incredibly grateful for all the work he has done.”
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While the magnitude of Graves’ impact is not in doubt, some have questioned whether that impact has been entirely positive. Controversial actions include overseeing the introduction of The Hundred and the payment of £2.5 million to Glamorgan in return for not bidding to host Test cricket, after which former Somerset chairman Andy Nash, who has since been a vocal critic of the ECB, stood down from the ECB board.
Counties have also raised concerns over the perception of conflicts of interest between Graves’ position as ECB chairman and the Graves Family Trust, which was at one point owed over £18 million by Yorkshire CCC, where Graves was chairman before moving to the ECB. Graves’ words have also caused raised eyebrows at times, with the Yorkshireman describing both West Indies, before a drawn Test series with England, and the T20 Blast, England’s premier T20 competition, as “mediocre”.
However, many feel any controversy has been vindicated by the swift and drastic action after England’s ill-fated 2015 World Cup campaign which led to the men’s side lifting the trophy for the first time at Lord’s last summer after one of the greatest games of all time. Four members of that side and coach Trevor Bayliss have also been recognised in the honours list.
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Five others have been honoured for their services to cricket. Former England wicketkeeper Alan Knott, who holds the record for the most dismissals taken by an English wicketkeeper in Test cricket, has received an MBE. Former West Indies captain Clive Lloyd has received a knighthood while his ex-teammate Gordon Greenidge has received the order of St Michael and St George Knight Commander. Keith Cook, an employee at Warwickshire for 46 years, has been awarded the British Empire Medal.
