LONDON, April 27: England chairman of selectors David Graveney reflected on ten years of differing fortunes in his tenure and made a weary but heartfelt plea to remain in the job.

Graveney, much-maligned and seemingly on brink of being replaced by a new, more powerful director of cricket, spoke of the uncertainty he faces as he prepares to pick England team for the first Test against the West Indies next month at home, his fractious relationship with former coach Duncan Fletcher and insistence that he will never resign.

He accepted he may well follow Fletcher out of the ECB door, talked of how he made a concerted attempt to be less sensitive to criticism and admitted to mistakes that were made in this ‘chastening’ winter.

Most of all, he wants to carry on as: “I'm a cricket man and this is what I do. It’s been a tough time,” said Graveney, who became a selector in 1995 and then the chairman in 1997. “Mistakes were made. There were points during the winter when it might have gone differently but ultimately we have to be judged on results.”

Now he is at crossroads. He has seen Mike Atherton, Alec Stewart and Nasser Hussain come and go as England captain, David Lloyd and Fletcher depart as coaches.

In that time Graveney has overseen defeat in five Ashes series, one glorious triumph in 2005, and three dreadful World Cup campaigns. He knows next bullet may well have his name on it.

“I've been around longer than most. It's a part-time role to a large extent. I have to combine it with work for PCA, but it is my main source of income. It is up to other people to decide whether I’m still the right man for the job. If they feel it's time to go then I will just have to go.”

Now it is the new coach in Peter Moores and the team to be selected to face the West Indies at Lord’s on May 17. They meet next week, but know Ken Schofield’s report into state of English cricket due to be delivered week after, may not make pretty reading for the chairman.

“I haven't met Schofield but talked to two of his committee, Hugh Morris and Brian Rose,” said Graveney. “The worst thing from my point of view is I feel in state of limbo. The priority is to address mistakes made and to get us playing good cricket again.” —Agencies