England chief cricket selector on mercy mission

Sa'adi Thawfeeq

TSUNAMI RELIEF: Being Chairman of England's Cricket Selectors is a rather onerous job but David Graveney is finding time in between tours to contribute his little bit towards children affected by the 2004 Boxing Day tsunami.

"I saw the events of Boxing Day 2004 and it touched everybody in the world. Having been to Sri Lanka and had such a great time here I felt I needed to do something," said Graveney.

"I can remember very vividly how it was reported initially in the UK. It was a natural disaster and they were talking of hundreds of people losing their lives. The true tragedy unfolded a couple of days later. The damage is there for all to see on the road between Colombo and Galle," he said.

Graveney used the recently concluded ICC Under-19 World Cup in Colombo to make his third visit to Sri Lanka since the tsunami and distribute cricket gear to children in the age groups of 14 and 16.

His first visit was in March last year when he came over to observe England 'A' play Sri Lanka 'A'. He returned a few months later when England was playing in the Hongkong Sixes. On each occasion he has brought bags full of cricket gear and distributed it to children in the affected areas.

"We have now made contact with over 30 schools. With the help of Ana Punchihewa (the former Sri Lanka Cricket President and schoolmate of Graveney at Millhill School) we have been able to identify the schools," said Graveney. "One of the guys whom I did meet and who is a friend of Ana's is Sajith Premadasa (an MP and son of former Sri Lanka President Ranasinghe Premadasa).

He obviously is active in his particular area Hambantota. The 20 stationed schools there were crying out for cricket kits."

"It is also interesting to come back in the next 12 months and see how our equipment is being used. It's important to know that it is used properly and that the children benefit by it," he said.

Graveney said it was a rewarding experience to see the faces of schoolchildren and how excited they were. "They are always immaculately turned out no matter what the circumstances."

Graveney said that it was his idea to distribute the 'Kits for Kids' as he calls it.

"Some businesses in the UK donated some money once it became public. I sit on the Committees of Lord's Taverners and they very kindly donated the gear. Without them we wouldn't have any gear at all," said Graveney, the 53-year-old former Gloucestershire stalwart and nephew of former England cricketer Tom Graveney.

"There are several people like Emirates Airlines and the Hilton Hotel who have been very kind to me. A lot of goodwill, but in the bigger scheme of things it is probably a very minuscule gesture. For me as an individual this is probably the area I can help," he said.