Determined, honest, and upfront – these are the values Colin Graves asserted his father instilled in him. Displaying the same character while closing our Spring Programme at Lees Hall Golf Club, the Yorkshire CCC chair spoke candidly about the White Rose’s remarkable journey and shared forthright views on English cricket.
Raised on a farm in Thorne, Graves was steeped in the game from day one. The former ECB chairman picked up a bat at four and played league cricket until he was 55 – a lifetime shaped by both passion and duty to the sport.
In 2002, a call from former Yorkshire spinner Geoff Cope proved life-changing. “Can you come down to Headingley? We want to pick your brains,” Cope asked. Graves smiled as he recalled it, adding, “That was the most expensive phone call I ever got.”
As Yorkshire was burdened by £5 million in debt and had no assets, the famous “gang of four” was formed to rescue the county. “Everyone said it couldn’t be done,” Graves reflected. “It had gone past the point of no return – and the rest is history.”
After returning the club to stability and parting ways in 2015, Graves watched the racism scandal unravel from afar. Then, in 2023, another call came asking him to steady the ship once more.
And once again, the rest is history.
Yorkshire has since cleared all debts and, for the first time, paid every bill on time in the last six months.