ECB chief Colin Graves in embarrassing U-turn over Hundred at the Oval

ECB chairman Colin Graves was forced into an embarrassing climbdown on Friday over his attempt to stop Surrey staging matches in next summer’s Hundred competition.

Graves had been furious with Surrey’s opposition to the playing conditions for the controversial new format and had threatened to take games away from the Oval despite it being of England’s biggest and most successful venues.

But, even though Graves contacted county chairmen in an attempt to drum up support for his plan, his attempt to switch the matches to Chelmsford or Bristol has been scuppered.

 ECB chairman Colin Graves was forced into an embarrassing climbdown over The Hundred

If the Hundred is to succeed — and the ECB have gambled the game’s future on it doing so — they cannot afford to turn their back on England’s biggest county and a ground which has been one of the most successful Twenty20 venues in England.

Sportsmail understands the ECB board on Friday stood up to their chairman, who was accused of bullying tactics against the counties by one insider. The counties have been promised an extra £1.3million each for going along with the ECB’s new tournament.

‘Graves has shown himself to be what he is — a petulant bully who must get his own way,’ said the insider. ‘A number of counties want him out now as he is in his last year anyway. ECB — Explaining Colin’s Behaviour — has never been truer.’ 

ECB chief threatened to take games away from the Oval for the controversial new format