FOUR TIMES HE SHOT HIMSELF IN THE FOOT

MARCH 2015:

Two months before taking up his role as ECB chairman, Graves said questions would be asked if England didn’t beat a ‘mediocre’ West Indies. England drew 1-1 and Alastair Cook said Graves’s comments were ‘not ideal’.

MAY 2015:

Graves had to defend himself after claims he misled Kevin Pietersen over his chances of an England recall. Graves said Pietersen must score runs in county cricket but despite a 355 not out he wasn’t picked. Graves defended his actions as his ‘integrity has been questioned’.

MAY 2016:

Graves claimed the NatWest T20 Blast was ‘mediocre’. He said: ‘Most would agree that our tournament is mediocre compared (to the IPL and Big Bash).’

MARCH 2018:

Graves was accused of presiding over a ‘fiasco’ by resigning ECB member Andy Nash, who slammed plans to pay £500,000 to major grounds in summers where they don’t host Tests. He told Graves: ‘ This is not a direction I can live with.’