Cricket boss threatened to sue school

The chairman of the England cricket selectors was today accused of being part of the "compensation culture" by threatening to sue after his son was injured while playing the game at school.

David Graveney, the former England team manager, tried to sue Colston's School in Bristol. It came after his 17-year-old son Adam was left with 10 per cent vision in his right eye after being hit by a ball.

Mr Graveney, 51, who captained Gloucestershire and Durham as well as playing for Somerset during a 22-year career, also threatened legal action against two of his son's team-mates. But he was forced to back down and settle for a £7,000 insurance payment.

Adam was hit by the ball during a practice session in the nets at the £15,000-a-year private school four years ago. The injury ruined his hopes of following his father, uncle and grandfather as a professional cricketer.

Mr Graveney began an action for negligence claiming Adam had been standing inside the nets when he was struck by the ball hit by John Sexstone after it had been bowled by Tom Phillips. The boys were fellow members of Colston's first eleven and county youth players.

But the action was dropped after the parents of the boys threatened to fight in court. It emerged that Adam had been outside the nets when the injury occurred. John's father, Colin Sexstone, chief executive of Bristol City football club, said today: "This was an accident, albeit a very sad one. You would have thought the chairman of the England selectors might have recognised that before embarking on a course of action that smacked of desperation."

He said Mr Graveney's threat of legal action had caused the two boys, who were 18 at the time, "great anguish".

Nick Seaton, chairman of the Campaign for Real Education said: "Most sensible people would think that unless there had been gross negligence litigation is unnecessary. This culture undermines sport because schools are afraid someone's going to sue them."

Mr Graveney said: "Like all parents we wanted to do all we could for our son. I accept it was a tragic accident with no one to blame. But you have to examine all the provisions for cover the school might hold."