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Sports Desk: Former England women\u2019s captain Clare Connor is to become the first female president of Marylebone Cricket Club in its 233-year history.<\/p>\nSports Desk: Former England women\u2019s captain Clare Connor is to become the first female president of Marylebone Cricket Club in its 233-year history.<\/p>\n
Current incumbent Kumar Sangakkara, the first non-British MCC president, nominated Connor via video link from his native Sri Lanka during an annual general meeting on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
Connor, now the England and Wales Cricket Board\u2019s head of women\u2019s cricket, is set to take up her new post on October 1, 2021, subject to the membership\u2019s approval.<\/p>\n
Presidents of MCC usually remain in post for one year but Sangakkara\u2019s term is set to be extended by a further 12 months because of the coronavirus pandemic.<\/p>\n
It was not until 1998 that MCC, which owns Lord\u2019s Cricket Ground, voted to allow women to become members.<\/p>\n
Prior to that, Britain\u2019s Queen Elizabeth II was one of the few women allowed in the Lord\u2019s pavilion.<\/p>\n
\u201cI am deeply honoured to be named the next president of MCC,\u201d said Connor in a statement.<\/p>\n
\u201cCricket has enriched my life so deeply already, and now it hands me this wonderful privilege.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe often need to look back to see how far we\u2019ve come. I made my first visit to Lord\u2019s as a starry-eyed, cricket-obsessed nine-year-old girl at a time when women were not welcome in the Long Room (of the pavilion). \u2013 \u2018Times have changed\u2019 \u2013<\/p>\n
The 43-year-old Connor, now the chair of the International Cricket Council\u2019s women\u2019s cricket committee, added: \u201cTimes have changed. Now I find myself entrusted with this remarkable opportunity \u2014 the opportunity to play a part in helping MCC, cricket\u2019s most influential club, to thrive and grow in an even more modern and inclusive future.<\/p>\n
\u201cMCC does wonderful work for communities in the UK and overseas. It stages the most uplifting events. It brings people together.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd as we take small steps to emerge from this uncertain and difficult time, we are going to need the power of sport and strong sporting organisations like MCC more than ever.\u201d<\/p>\n
Meanwhile Sangakkara said he was \u201cthrilled\u201d by Connor\u2019s latest cricket appointment, the Sri Lanka great adding: \u201cThe club has a significant role to play in cricket\u2019s global appeal and with her influence, I am sure she will make a considerable contribution to MCC.\u201d<\/p>\n
Left-arm spinner Connor made her England debut aged 19 in 1995 and went on to captain her country in 2000 before retiring six years later.<\/p>\n
Although MCC no longer runs English cricket, it has worldwide responsibility for the sport\u2019s rules.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Sports Desk: Former England women\u2019s captain Clare Connor is to become the first female president of Marylebone Cricket Club in its 233-year history. Current incumbent Kumar Sangakkara, the first non-British MCC president, nominated Connor via video link from his native Sri Lanka during an annual general meeting on Wednesday. Connor, now the England and Wales […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":60216,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[8],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\t\n\n\n\t\n