The Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) discussion

[MenInG]

Kumar Sangakkara will be the next President of Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC). The former Sri Lankan international will take up the post on 1st October 2019 and will serve for a period of one year. He will become the first non-British President.

His nomination was announced by the current President, Anthony Wreford, at the MCC Annual General Meeting on Wednesday 1st May 2019, held at Lord’s.

Sangakkara is already heavily involved with MCC and delivered a powerful and memorable MCC Spirit of Cricket Cowdrey Lecture in 2011. In 2012, he was awarded Honorary Life Membership of the Club. In the same year, he joined MCC’s World Cricket committee and remains an active member.

His connections with MCC go back a long way: he played against the Club in 2002, opening the batting for the touring Sri Lankans in a first-class match at Queen’s Park, Chesterfield. He also played for MCC against an International XI at Lord’s in the 2005 Tsunami Relief Match. Proceeds from that match were used by the Foundation of Goodness to set up the MCC Centre of Excellence at Seenigama in Sri Lanka.

Kumar Sangakkara said: “It is a huge honour to be named the next President of MCC and it is a role that I am thoroughly looking forward to. For me, MCC is the greatest cricket club in the world, with its global reach and continued progress for cricket on and off the pitch. The year 2020 is going to be yet another significant one in cricket, especially at Lord’s, and I am thrilled that I am going to be able to play a part in supporting its future as President of MCC.”

Sangakkara appears twice on the Honours Boards at Lord’s, with both innings coming in 2014. He hit 147 in the Test Match draw with England, and 112 in Sri Lanka’s One-Day International victory over the same opposition.

Sangakkara’s year of office will begin on 1st October 2019 and will conclude on 30th September 2020. His tenure will include another busy year at Lord’s next summer, with two England Test Matches against West Indies and Pakistan and the launch of The Hundred competition.
MCC President, Anthony Wreford said: “As MCC looks to broaden both our horizons and international reputation, I’m delighted that Kumar has accepted the invitation, which he did in January this year, to be the next President of MCC. He is an outstanding individual both on and off the field and will make a huge contribution to the Club. In a World Cup and Ashes year he will also have a significant role to play as President Designate.”

 

[topspin]

Great move. A very charismatic and knowledgeable great of the game. I've always enjoyed listening to his lectures.

Pakistani players could learn a thing or two from his career, rather than following a toxic individual like Inzy.

 

[malcom_86]

Pakistani players could learn a thing or two from his career, rather than following a toxic individual like Inzy.

Was this really necessary?

 

[topspin]

Was this really necessary?

It sure is, when you look at how Pakistani players carry themselves and their chosen role models, that is part of the reason why Pakistan cricket is no longer producing legendary/great calibre players anymore.

 

[Junaids]

He is marvellous, but surely the MCC should have reviewed the events of the final day of the 2011 England v Sri Lanka Test at Cardiff.

I would be very reluctant to place any of those Sri Lankan players in any position of authority, because that scorecard can simply never be explained away.

 

[KyoOne]

He is marvellous, but surely the MCC should have reviewed the events of the final day of the 2011 England v Sri Lanka Test at Cardiff.

I would be very reluctant to place any of those Sri Lankan players in any position of authority, because that scorecard can simply never be explained away.

What is ICC's ACU for if MCC has to review dubious test collapses?

 

[MenInG]

Former Sri Lanka captain Kumar Sangakkara feels one can expect a "close competition" and "great cricket" in the ICC Men's Cricket World Cup 2019.

Sangakkara, 41, who is soon to take over as the first non-British president of the Marylebone Cricket Club, is excited about the marquee tournament, which begins on 30 May.

"I have a feeling this World Cup will be one of the best ever tournaments," he told Hindustan Times. "There will be close competition and I am sure we can look forward to some great cricket. The fans will enjoy it. It will be a great occasion for the sport and I am really excited."

Sangakkara is pleased with the way new teams are entering international cricket and believes it bodes well for the growth of the game. "I think the ICC has been doing a very good job in terms of trying to spread the game and more importantly in terms of bringing new teams to the framework. MCC does it in a unique way and has planned to tie up and bring in exciting new countries."

The dashing left-hander, who represented Sri Lanka in four World Cups, also added that while cricket is growing, it is also important for the governing bodies to ensure there is no overload.

"It should be looked at how home boards do their scheduling. It has got more to do with the ICC to balance out the Future Tours Programme. There has to be adequate break between tours ensuring rehabilitation is done in a proper manner.

"There’s lot of international cricket and lot of domestic leagues taking place at the moment. They have to work with the home boards to balance things, not only for players and boards but even for spectators."

https://www.icc-cricket.com/news/1206704

 

[MenInG]

One of the all-time legends of cricket, Kumar Sangakkara, today takes up his role as President of Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC).
The former Sri Lankan international is the first non-British President of MCC and will hold the post for one year.
His nomination was announced by the outgoing President, Anthony Wreford, at the MCC Annual General Meeting at Lord’s in May this year.

Kumar Sangakkara said: “I am thrilled to hold the prestigious position of MCC President and I look forward to working hard with the MCC to build on this incredible year of cricket. We have an opportunity to convert more supporters to the game we love and educate them about the fantastic work MCC does locally, nationally and globally for cricket and those communities.”

Sangakkara has a long association with MCC. He played against the Club in 2002, opening the batting for the touring Sri Lankans in a first-class match at Queen’s Park, Chesterfield. He also played for MCC against an International XI at Lord’s in the 2005 Tsunami Relief Match. Proceeds from that match were used by the Foundation of Goodness to set up the MCC Centre of Excellence at Seenigama in Sri Lanka.

He delivered a powerful and memorable MCC Spirit of Cricket Cowdrey Lecture in 2011. In 2012, he was awarded Honorary Life Membership of the Club. In the same year, he joined MCC’s World Cricket committee and remains an active member.

Guy Lavender, MCC Chief Executive & Secretary said: “We are delighted that Kumar is taking up his position today and it is with great thanks to Anthony Wreford for choosing our first international President. Anthony has been a superb President over an exceptionally busy period and in partnership with his wife Marian Wreford, they have made a fantastic contribution to the Club over a pivotal year. I have no doubt that Kumar will be an outstanding successor and will help shape our Club and vision moving forward.”

Outgoing MCC President Anthony Wreford said: “There is no better person than Kumar Sangakkara to take on the role of MCC President over the next twelve months. He strongly believes in the power of cricket to engage communities and he will be a pivotal ambassador for the important work that MCC does, including reaffirming its international reputation this summer by staging five ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup matches including that magical final. Kumar will be able to make a continued impact not only at Lord’s, but on the Club’s global status. His worldwide appeal as MCC’s first non-British President, will enable him to have a positive effect in this area. I leave the role in very safe hands.”

Sangakkara’s tenure as MCC President will include another busy year at Lord’s next summer, with two England Test Matches against West Indies and Pakistan, a One-Day International between England and Australia, and the launch of The Hundred competition

 

[MenInG]

The Committee of Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) has today announced its intention to offer the Club’s President, Kumar Sangakkara, a further year in the role.

The disruption to the global cricketing landscape caused by the outbreak of Covid-19 Coronavirus has led the Committee to recommend that Sangakkara, who began his term of office on 1 October 2019, be invited to serve as President of the Club until 30 September 2021.

The motion will need to be approved by the Club’s Members at the Annual General Meeting, which has been rescheduled to 24 June.
As is traditionally the case, the MCC President will name their successor at the Club’s Annual General Meeting. Sangakkara’s successor can expect to take up the post on 1 October 2021, again pending approval.

Whilst Presidents of MCC only normally serve for a twelve-month period, it is not unprecedented for longer terms to be introduced to respond to extraordinary circumstances. During the First and Second World Wars, Lord Hawke (1914-18) and Stanley Christopherson (1939-45) served for longer periods.

Former Sri Lankan international Sangakkara became the first non-British President in the history of MCC when he was nominated by outgoing President Anthony Wreford last year.

Sangakkara was already heavily involved with MCC and delivered a powerful and memorable MCC Cowdrey Lecture in 2011. He was awarded Honorary Life Membership of the Club in 2012 and joined MCC’s World Cricket committee the same year, and remains an active member.

In February 2020, he captained MCC on a seminal tour of Pakistan – the Club’s first tour to the country since 1973. The aim of the visit was to encourage international teams to visit Pakistan once again, following a decade in which the country was starved of international cricket as a result an attack targeting the team bus of the Sri Lankan tour squad, who included Sangakkara amongst their number.

 

[Bezli]

Sachin was eyeing for this role but I guess MCC wanted a match winner not a “great stats”

 

[SensiblePakFan]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">The Committee of MCC has announced its intention to offer the Club’s President, Kumar Sangakkara, a further year in the role. Sangakkara became the first non-British President in the history of MCC when he was nominated by outgoing President Anthony Wreford last year <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Cricket?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Cricket</a></p>— Saj Sadiq (@Saj_PakPassion) <a href="https://twitter.com/Saj_PakPassion/status/1257946308356255745?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 6, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[MenInG]

Clare Connor CBE has been named as the next President of Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC), with the appointment having been announced at today’s Annual General Meeting.

The former England captain will become the first female President in the Club’s 233-year history.

Her nomination was announced by current President Kumar Sangakkara via video from Sri Lanka. Connor will take up the post on 1 October 2021, pending approval by the Club’s Members, as Sangakkara has been invited to remain in the role for a second twelve-month tenure due to the impact of Covid-19 on the cricketing landscape.

Connor, who is currently the ECB’s Managing Director of Women’s Cricket, was made an Honorary Life Member of MCC in 2009.

Connor said of her appointment: “I am deeply honoured to be named the next President of MCC. Cricket has enriched my life so deeply already, and now it hands me this wonderful privilege. We often need to look back to see how far we’ve come. I made my first visit to Lord’s as a starry-eyed, cricket-obsessed nine year-old girl at a time when women were not welcome in the Long Room. Times have changed. Now I find myself entrusted with this remarkable opportunity – the opportunity to play a part in helping MCC, cricket’s most influential club, to thrive and grow in an even more modern and inclusive future.

“MCC does wonderful work for communities in the UK and overseas. It stages the most uplifting events. It brings people together. And 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. I really am very proud to have been asked to be its next President.”

Clare made her England debut in 1995 at the age of 19, and took over the captaincy in 2000, leading England at Lord’s against Australia a year later. An all-rounder who bowled left-arm spin, Connor led England women to their first Ashes triumph in 42 years, overseeing a 1-0 series win in 2005.

The Ashes win was the culmination of her six-year stint as captain of her country, retiring from the game shortly thereafter. She was appointed as the ECB’s Head of Women’s Cricket in 2007, having previously taught English Literature and been Head of PR at Brighton College alongside her cricketing career. Clare’s role at ECB expanded last year when she was made Managing Director of the women’s game. Aside from her ECB duties, Clare has been Chair of the ICC Women’s Cricket Committee since 2011. She has also served as a director on the board of Sussex Cricket and Sport England.

If Sangakkara’s two-year term is approved by Members at the AGM, Connor’s tenure will begin on 1 October 2021, and will conclude on 30 September 2022. Former Sri Lankan international Sangakkara, who became the Club’s first non-British President when he assumed office in October 2019, will then stand down in September 2021.

Sangakkara said: “I am thrilled that Clare has accepted the invitation to become the next President of MCC. The Club has a significant role to play in cricket’s global appeal and with her influence, I am sure she will make a considerable contribution to MCC.

“With the extended lead-in time until she takes office, she will have an important part to play as President Designate.”

Today’s AGM was the first in the Club’s history be held via an online platform, as Lord’s remains closed to its Members and the public due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.

 

[MenInG]

Brown is to be its sixth Club Chairman, subject to the approval by MCC Members at the 2021 Annual General Meeting.

Mr Carnegie-Brown, who is currently Chairman of Lloyd’s of London and Vice Chairman of Santander Banking Group will succeed Gerald Corbett, whose maximum six years in office will end on 30 September 2021.

Mr Carnegie-Brown has been a Full Member of MCC since 1997 and joined the Club’s Finance committee in October 2019. Along with a life-long passion for the game, he brings a wealth of executive and board-level experience to the role. He has previously held senior positions at 3i Group plc, Marsh & McLennan Companies Inc, J.P. Morgan & Company and Bank of America. He is currently Chairman of Lloyd’s of London, Vice Chairman and Lead Independent Director of Banco Santander SA and a Non-Executive Director of Santander UK plc.

On confirmation of his selection, Mr Carnegie-Brown said: “It is a huge privilege to be proposed to Members as the next Club Chairman. Notwithstanding the extraordinary challenges of this year, our Club has proven to be very resilient and is well placed for the return of Members and visitors to Lord’s as soon as this is permitted. I look forward to meeting Members of the Club and to earning their trust and support”.

Robert Leigh, MCC Trustee and former Treasurer, who led the selection process said: “We conducted a thorough assessment and interview process with the help of executive search consulting firm, Spencer Stuart, and involving the Trustees, the Treasurer, Chairs of Principal Committees and elected members of the MCC Committee. From the many excellent applicants, it became clear to all of us that Mr Carnegie-Brown will be an outstanding Club Chairman. He brings a wealth of board-level experience from various organisations across banking, finance, arts and the charity sector that will be of great benefit to us all. We look forward to welcoming him to the position in 2021”.

Current MCC Chairman, Gerald Corbett, said: “I think Bruce will be a fantastic Chairman and I’m looking forward to working closely with him to ensure an orderly handover at the end of the committee year in September”.

As Chairman of MCC, he will work closely with Chief Executive & Secretary Guy Lavender to ensure the Committee’s effective operation. Mr Carnegie-Brown will be joining the Committee next October after an unprecedented and uncertain 18 months. He will help to steer the Club through what is hoped to be the aftermath of the global pandemic, with a focus on working with the MCC Committee to develop and deliver its mid- to long-term objectives and vision for the future.

Mr Carnegie-Brown will become the sixth person to hold the post following its creation in 2000. Sir Michael Jenkins (2000-2001), Lord Alexander of Weedon (2001-2004), Charles Fry (2004-2009), Oliver Stocken (2009-2015) and Gerald Corbett (2015-2021) are his predecessors. The Club’s Rules stipulate that the Club Chairman can serve a maximum of two three-year periods. As with all non-executive roles at MCC, the position of Club Chairman is not remunerate

 

[MenInG]

Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) President and Sri Lankan cricket great, Kumar Sangakkara, officially opened the new £53 million Compton and Edrich stands at Lord’s Cricket Ground today, in front of the first full crowds for a Test match at Lord’s since 2019.

Sangakkara declared the stands officially open by cutting the ribbon of MCC colours, scarlet and gold, accompanied by MCC Chairman Gerald Corbett, MCC Chief Executive & Secretary Guy Lavender, and members of the project team who made the completion of the redevelopment possible during the past 18 months and the challenges raised by the pandemic.

Those present also included two generations of the Compton and Edrich families, after whom the stands are named: Nick and Ben Compton, both cricketers and grandsons of the late Denis Compton, and Justin Edrich, son of Bill Edrich, along with his daughter Alix, and Bill’s niece, Jean attended the opening ceremony. The late Denis Compton and Bill Edrich entertained thousands of spectators during their careers, and their contribution to the history of Lord’s will continue to inspire visitors to the Home of Cricket through the stands.

The redeveloped Compton and Edrich stands, designed by double RIBA Stirling Prize winners WilkinsonEyre and constructed by ISG and engineered by global engineering consultancy Buro Happold, have replaced the old structures with significantly improved facilities that will future proof the Home of Cricket, while complementing the unique character of the Ground.

The spectacular and innovative stands accommodate 11,600 spectators and provide an experience to be enjoyed by a range of cricket supporters. Ticket holders will benefit from the numerous integrated catering and washroom facilities located in close proximity to seats at all levels, ensuring minimal time away from the cricket action on the Ground while providing excellent sightlines and unparalleled views of Lord’s. The stands have greatly improved accessibility with wheelchair-accessible spaces, amenity seating and lift access at all levels. Debenture Holder level seating on the second tier boasts two magnificent pitch-facing restaurants, Compton’s and The Edrich, the latter of which is run by Michelin-starred chef, Tommy Banks for international matches, as well as two exquisite hospitality suites. The stands also include a new shop at ground level.

A walkway bridge links the two stands, offering beautiful views of both the Main Ground and the iconic Pavilion, and the Nursery Ground and beyond overlooking St John’s Wood Church Gardens. Completing the new stands are two state-of-the-art canopy roofs which honours the design of the RIBA Stirling prize-winning J.P. Morgan Media Centre by architect, the late Jan Kaplicky.

Some of the project’s statistics, include:

7,000m³ of material has been excavated from the site in demolishing the old stands.
2,000 tonnes of steel has been installed to create the superstructure now in place.
1,300 separate pieces of pre-cast concrete form the terracing of the three tiers, standing at 24 metres high, which offer unparalleled views of the hallowed turf and iconic Grade II* listed Pavilion.
The majority of the 11,600 seats fitted have been re-used from the previous stands to mitigate waste, and they all offer unrestricted views of the playing area.
The stands offer an additional 2,600 seats, increasing the Ground’s capacity to 31,600.

MCC President Kumar Sangakkara, said: “I am incredibly proud to have the honour of opening these magnificent new stands. One of the key focuses during my tenure as President was the development of Lord’s as a leading venue in world cricket, and it’s an incredible moment to see this ambition achieved and full of life with cricket supporters enjoying the stands.

“It’s wonderful that we are joined by family members of the great Denis Compton and Bill Edrich for this memorable occasion, two fantastic players and characters of the game who were a joy to watch. Their entertaining presence will be remembered through these stands for years to come and will no doubt be accompanied by many more historic moments on the field at Lord’s.”

MCC Chief Executive & Secretary Guy Lavender, said: “It’s been excellent to see the progress of the redevelopment over the past two years. In what has been a challenging time for everybody, finally opening these stands fully to be enjoyed by cricket supporters for this Test match is a significant moment.

“There has been an incredible amount of hard work to achieve this milestone and I would like to thank everybody who has been involved in this project, which has truly been a team effort.”

 

[MenInG]

Stephen Fry has been named as the next President of Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC), with the appointment having been announced at today’s Annual General Meeting.

His nomination was announced by current President Clare Connor at Lord’s and Fry will take up the post on 1 October 2022.

Fry is a lifelong cricket supporter, a patron of the MCC Foundation, and delivered the MCC Cowdrey Lecture last year.

He said of his appointment: “I am honoured and proud to be nominated as the next President of MCC. It is a Club that is known throughout the world for what it represents in the game and to be gifted the opportunity to perform this role is truly humbling.

“I thank Clare for this incredible opportunity and I look forward to supporting her as President Designate over the summer before commencing my own innings in the autumn.”

Fry is an English actor, screenwriter, author, playwright, journalist, poet, comedian, television presenter and film director. He is also an advocate for mental health and has been President of Mind, the mental health charity, for over a decade.

An MCC Member since 2011, he is widely known to be a lover of cricket and delivered the 20th MCC Cowdrey Lecture in November 2021. As only the second non-cricketing personality to give the Lecture, his impassioned speech was both powerful and memorable.

Fry has also worked with MCC previously to narrate a series of videos to help explain aspects of the Laws of Cricket for use on MCC’s elearning platforms.

MCC President Clare Connor said: “I am thrilled to be able to announce Stephen as my successor. He has a deep love and care for cricket and will be a wonderful ambassador for MCC. The Cowdrey Lecture he delivered last year was inspiring and showed the extent to which he understands the challenges and opportunities that both MCC and cricket face. He will bring a wealth of experience to the role and I hope he thoroughly enjoys his year.”

Today’s Annual General Meeting at Lord’s was the first to be held in a hybrid format, with Members attending in person at the Ground as well as online. This follows the previous two years where meetings were held solely online due to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.

 

[James]

Stephen is a true scholar of the game.

Good appointment.

 

[MenInG]

Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) has today announced the addition of three new Members to its World Cricket committee (WCC), which will be meeting next week in Dubai for the first time this year.

Clare Connor, Justin Langer, and Graeme Smith have joined the WCC, which is an independent body comprised of current and former international cricketers, umpires, and officials from across the world.

Former MCC President Connor was part of WCC discussions during her time in office at Lord’s and has now joined the WCC on a permanent basis. The former England captain, who led her country to a first women’s Ashes triumph in 42 years in 2005, has most recently been acting as interim Chief Executive at the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) and previously, Managing Director of women’s cricket.

Langer, an opening batter who played over 100 Tests for Australia in one of the great sides of the modern era, was Head Coach of the men’s team from 2018 until 2022 and led the side to retain the Ashes in a memorable series in England in 2019. Australia won the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup under his guidance in 2021, before going on to defeat England in the Ashes on home soil.

Another opener who enjoyed more than a century of Tests for his country, Smith became South Africa’s youngest captain when he was handed the role at the age of 22. He was appointed South Africa’s Director of Cricket shortly after he retired from the game in 2014, and last year became Commissioner of the SA20, a league which has been enjoying early success in its inaugural tournament this year.

The upcoming WCC meeting takes place on Sunday 12 and Monday 13 February at the ICC headquarters in Dubai. Some of the key topics which will be discussed include what the game will look like across the next decade, including wealth distribution and playing schedules.

Following the conclusion of the last meeting, held at Lord’s in July, Tim May and Vince van der Bijl both stepped down from the committee, having served for the maximum length of time. MCC would like to put on record their thanks and gratitude to Tim and Vince for their commitment to the WCC throughout their lengthy tenures and look forward to welcoming them back to Lord’s soon.

These are the first new additions to the WCC since 2020 when Sir Alastair Cook and Ricky Skerritt were added. Brendon McCullum and Ricky Ponting have since stepped down from the committee due to other commitments, whilst Shane Warne was a valued member of the WCC at the time of his tragic passing last year.

Chair of the MCC World Cricket committee Mike Gatting said: “We are extremely pleased to be able to welcome Clare, Justin, and Graeme to the World Cricket committee. It is fantastic news that they have accepted our invitations.

“All three will bring different insights to the game and their deep knowledge from the elite level will be hugely advantageous to the work of the committee. I am looking forward to hearing their contributions to the important discussions that we have planned.”


The full list of committee members is as follows:

Mike Gatting - Chair
Jamie Cox – MCC Director (Cricket & Operations)
Suzie Bates
Clare Connor
Sir Alastair Cook
Kumar Dharmasena
Sourav Ganguly
Justin Langer
Ramiz Raja
Kumar Sangakkara
Graeme Smith
Ricky Skerritt

 

[MenInG]

Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) is delighted to announce that Nepal’s Aasif Sheikh is the recipient of the 2022 Christopher Martin-Jenkins Spirit of Cricket Award.

Wicketkeeper-batter Aasif has been recognised with this award, which the Club runs in conjunction with BBC, for his sporting conduct shown in a Men’s T20 International between Nepal and Ireland in February 2022.

The match in Al-Almerat, part of the Oman Quadrangular T20I Series, saw Aasif refuse to run out Ireland’s Andy McBrine, who was accidentally upended by bowler Kamal Airee when attempting a run in the 19th over of the Irish innings.

Kamal, bowling to Mark Adair, fielded off his own bowling and Aasif received the throw cleanly but opted not to remove the bails and run out McBrine, despite having plenty of time to do so until the batter was to make his ground at the striker’s end. The move was supported by Nepal captain Sandeep Lamichhane at the time who immediately shook McBrine’s hand in the aftermath.

The video clip of the incident has been viewed over 1.4 million times on YouTube (here) and was shared widely on social media, amassing millions of views worldwide in the days after the match.

The CMJ Spirit of Cricket Award was created in 2013 by MCC and the BBC in memory of former MCC President and BBC Test Match Special commentator Christopher Martin-Jenkins (“CMJ”), who was passionate about promoting the spirit of the game. For the first time in its history, MCC and BBC invited public nominations for the award in December 2022 and Aasif Sheikh’s conduct for Nepal was adjudged to be the winning entry.

Aasif Sheikh said of the award: “This feels surreal. The CMJ Spirit of Cricket Award is an honour and to receive it, I am simply grateful.

“My parents raised me to be humble and kind in all contexts, my coaches taught me what true team play is and my teammates who keep encouraging me to do my best are equally a part of this success.

“Regardless of the result, we always strive to play fairly, respect everyone on and off the field, and give it our all.

“The moment itself was a spontaneous decision on my/our part not to take the wicket because it would have been unfair to the opponent. We wouldn't be pleased if our team had got the wicket in that manner, since it would be against our culture and the spirit of sportsmanship.

“They say that cricket is a game of gentlemen and I believe the Spirit of Cricket Award truly signifies that. Thank you MCC.”

MCC and BBC also highly commended two other individuals who were nominated during the process. England white-ball captain Jos Buttler refused to appeal for obstructing the field when Australia’s Matthew Wade top-edged a Mark Wood delivery, with the batter blocking the bowler’s attempt to make the catch in the Men’s T20I between the teams in Perth in October 2022.

Ben Stokes has also been commended for his captaincy of the England Men’s Test team, for playing attacking and entertaining cricket. Stokes donating his match fees from the Pakistan series to the country’s flood appeal and ensuring young newcomer Rehan Ahmed featured prominently in the trophy presentation were two of the factors as to why he was nominated.

Jamie Cox, Director of Cricket and Operations, said: “We were thrilled to be able to throw this important award open to public nominations in 2022 and it was no surprise that Aasif Sheikh’s act of selflessness was amongst the entries.

“For a young player, and indeed captain, to display an act of sportsmanship such as this in a form of cricket where every single run can make a difference is exactly why we talk about the spirit of the game, and this award is thoroughly deserved.

Jonathan Agnew, BBC Cricket correspondent, said: “Our much-missed colleague CMJ would absolutely have approved of the actions of Aasif Sheikh. Christopher believed that of course you play to win, but it as important you play the game in the right way.

“It is also good to see the two captains of the England men’s teams Jos and Ben commended, as they are setting a brilliant example to young cricketers”

Aasif Sheikh will be officially presented with the CMJ Spirit of Cricket Award later this year. He was also awarded the ICC Spirit of Cricket Award for his actions in January of this year.

 

[MenInG]

Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) is delighted to announce the latest cohort of new Honorary Life Members.

MCC awards Honorary Life Membership of the Club to some of the world’s finest cricketers and can today reveal the names of the latest men and women to have been bestowed with this privilege:

Merissa Aguilleira – West Indies (2008–2019)
M.S. Dhoni – India (2004–2019)
Jhulan Goswami – India (2002-2022)
Jenny Gunn – England (2004-2019)
Muhammad Hafeez – Pakistan (2003-2021)
Rachael Haynes – Australia (2009-2022)
Laura Marsh – England (2006–2019)
Eoin Morgan – England (2006-2022)
Mashrafe Mortaza – Bangladesh (2001-2020)
Kevin Pietersen – England (2005-2014)
Suresh Raina – India (2005-2018)
Mithali Raj – India (1999-2022)
Amy Satterthwaite – New Zealand (2007-2022)
Anya Shrubsole – England (2008-2022)
Yuvraj Singh - India (2000-2017)
Dale Steyn – South Africa (2004–2020)
Ross Taylor – New Zealand (2006-2022)

The Club has also awarded a further two Honorary Life Memberships for non-playing contributions to the game.

Eight of the 12 Test-playing nations are represented within this year’s list, which includes some of the most recognisable names in the modern game.

Eoin Morgan lifted the ICC Men’s World Cup for England at Lord’s in 2019, two years after Jenny Gunn, Laura Marsh and Anya Shrubsole had helped England defeat India in the ICC Women’s World Cup Final at the same venue. Kevin Pietersen, who won the Ashes four times and was Player of the Tournament in England’s 2010 ICC Men’s World T20 win, completes the quintet of English players.

Five Indian players have been recognised with Honorary Life Membership. Jhulan Goswami, who bowed out from internationals in the England v India Women’s One-Day International at Lord’s last year, is the leading wicket-taker in Women’s ODIs whilst Mithali Raj heads the run-scoring list with 7,805 in 211 innings.

M.S. Dhoni and Yuvraj Singh were both integral parts of the India side which won the 2007 ICC Men’s World T20 and the 2011 ICC Men’s World Cup, and Suresh Raina scored over 5,500 ODI runs across a 13-year career.

There are five players who are sole representatives of their countries on this year’s list. Merissa Aguilleira represented West Indies with distinction as a wicketkeeper-batter, whilst Mashrafe Mortaza enjoyed a 19-year career with Bangladesh as an impactful bowling all-rounder.

Pakistan’s Muhammad Hafeez represented his country almost 400 times across the three international formats of the game, most regularly as an opening bat, and South Africa’s Dale Steyn is recognised as one of the finest fast bowlers of his generation, taking 439 Test wickets.

Australia top order batter Rachael Haynes won six ICC tournaments with her country in a 13-year international career, as well as Gold in the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.

Kiwi duo Amy Satterthwaite and Ross Taylor complete the list. The former played 145 ODIs for New Zealand, scoring over 4,500 runs in the process, whilst Taylor is regarded has one of their greatest men’s batters, helping them to win the inaugural ICC World Test Championship in 2021.

In the non-playing related categories, Dr Jane Powell has enjoyed a lifelong involvement in the game as both a player and coach and was appointed as Disability Performance Manager at ECB last year.

Medha Laud has dedicated her entire working life to the game and has spent over three decades working closely with England teams. She was awarded an MBE in 2005 for services to cricket.

Guy Lavender, Chief Executive & Secretary of MCC, said: “We are thrilled to be able to announce our newest cohort of Honorary Life Members of MCC, as we prepare for the new international summer.

“The names that have been announced today are some of the greatest international players of modern times, and we are privileged to now count them as valued Members of our Club.

“We are also pleased to be able to announce two individuals who have been awarded this honour for their monumental contributions off the pitch.”

MCC’s Cricket committee considers the nomination of cricketers for Honorary Life Membership, recognising the outstanding international careers of some of the greats of the game. Honorary Life Membership is also awarded to individuals who have made an exceptional contribution to MCC or to the game in general.

Once approved by the MCC Committee, letters of invitation are sent to the individual to accept. There is no set number per year. Nominees can accept and be granted the honour at any time.

The last cohort was revealed in October 2021 when 18 former international players were announced, including Sir Alastair Cook, Jacques Kallis, Harbhajan Singh, and Sarah Taylor.

 

[MenInG]

Mark Nicholas has been named as the next President of Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC). He will serve a 12-month term as President, taking up the post on 1 October 2023. His appointment was announced by the current President, Stephen Fry, at the Club’s Annual General Meeting held earlier today.

Mark, who was elected as a Member of MCC in 1981, is one of the most recognisable figures in televised cricket, leading coverage at the very top of the game across the world.

He moved into the media following his retirement as a cricketer when he played as a top-order batter and medium-pace bowler for Hampshire and captained England A.

Mark scored over 25,000 runs - including an unbeaten hundred for MCC at Lord’s against the 1985 Australians - and took 173 wickets in a professional career spanning over two decades. He also captained Hampshire to four major trophies, three of which came in finals at Lord’s.

As a broadcaster, Mark anchored Channel 4’s acclaimed Test match coverage which began in 1999, and he was named as Sports Presenter of the Year in 2001 and 2005 by the Royal Television Society. Channel 4’s coverage concluded with England’s unforgettable men’s Ashes series victory in 2005 and he remained a permanent fixture on both sides of the globe for another 15 years, for Nine Network in Australia and Channel 5 in the UK.

He presently works for Supersport in South Africa, on TalkSPORT’s breakthrough radio coverage of England tours, and has previously featured on the world feed of the Indian Premier League tournament. Mark is a regular on ICC commentary teams for their global tournaments.

His writing skills are no less noteworthy. Mark joined the Daily Telegraph upon hanging up his boots and went on to write a personal memoir (A Beautiful Game: My Love Affair with Cricket) that alongside other awards was chosen as the Cricket Society and MCC Book of the Year in 2017. His long-term friendship with the late Shane Warne led to the pair co-authoring Warne’s compelling autobiography, No Spin, which was published to critical acclaim in 2018.

With Lord King of Lothbury at his side, Mark founded Chance to Shine, the charity that has done such a marvellous job in bringing cricket back into state schools. He remains fully involved and is looking forward to developing a closer relationship between CTS and the MCC Foundation.

He first entered the MCC Committee Room while still a player, beginning a ten-year stint on the Cricket committee in 1994. As well as three terms on the Club’s Main Committee, he has also served on the Marketing and Laws, Spirit & Ethos sub-committees.

Mark said of his appointment: “You only have to glance at the line of former Presidents of MCC to understand exactly what this honour means and what a privilege it is to receive it. I first watched cricket at Lord’s from behind the boundary rope on the outfield. I’ll get a smarter seat for a while now but will always wish I was still out there playing. What a game is cricket!”

MCC President Stephen Fry said: “Mark Nicholas is as deeply steeped in cricket as anyone I know. His passionate love of the game allied to his experience as a player, captain and expert analyst will make him a wonderful President of MCC – with one eye on heritage and tradition, and the other on the future development and expansion of the game, to which he has devoted his life.”

 

[MenInG]

Broadcaster and former cricketer Mark Nicholas has become President of Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC), with 1 October marking the start of his year in office. Nicholas was announced as Stephen Fry’s successor at the Club’s Annual General Meeting in May.

The new President scored over 25,000 runs and captained Hampshire to four major trophies in an 18-year career, before moving into broadcasting. He anchored Channel 4’s groundbreaking Test match coverage and was named as Sports Presenter of the Year in 2001 and 2005 by the Royal Television Society, before moving on to become the face of cricket in Australia for Channel 9 and then working for SuperSport in South Africa.

Nicholas has also excelled as a journalist, working for the Daily Telegraph and writing a number of books including the late Shane Warne’s autobiography, No Spin. His own book, A Beautiful Game, was voted MCC book of the year in 2017.

Mark has served on the club’s committees for cricket, marketing and Laws, Spirit & Ethos as well as the Main committee. He was also a part of the small working party that formed the principle of the Spirit of Cricket.

Nicholas said of his appointment: “I am honoured to be following in the footsteps of many wonderful people who have had the privilege of being the President of MCC, none more so than two heroes of mine and mentors, Ted Dexter and Colin Ingleby-Mackenzie.

"Lord's is, of course, a special place and I’m looking forward to a greater involvement with the Club through the many projects with which we are presently engaged. I’m also excited by the many events which we have already planned over the next year.”

Further changes to the MCC Committee are also taking place, with new Treasurer Chris Rogers replacing Tony Elgood, who completed six years in the role.

MCC Members appointed Rogers for a three-year term at the AGM in May. He was elected as a Member of the Club in 1977 and has served on the Club’s Finance committee since 2015. He is currently non-executive chair at Wickes Group and a non-executive director at Sanderson Design Group and Kerry Group. He was previously Chief Financial Officer at Whitbread and Global Managing Director of Costa Coffee.

Kumar Sangakkara remains on the MCC Committee as the new Chair of the MCC World Cricket committee, replacing former England captain Mike Gatting, who had six years in the role.

Former Sri Lankan international Sangakkara was President of MCC from 2019-21. Widely regarded as one of the game’s greatest players, he has since gone on to a successful career combining coaching and commentary work. He will chair a committee which includes other exceptional cricketers including Sourav Ganguly, Heather Knight, Justin Langer, Eoin Morgan and Graeme Smith.

 

[FearlessRoar]

An MCC member has been banned for life and another two suspended for abusive, offensive or inappropriate behaviour or language toward Australia players at Lord's during the second men's Ashes Test in July.

Details of the disciplinary process are confidential and the MCC will not be publishing the names of the three individuals who have been sanctioned.

In a statement, it said: The actions of the three individuals in the pavilion on the day in question fell well below the behaviour expected from our members.

The penalties set out above are the consequences of breaching the club's Code of Conduct. MCC will not be making any further comment on the matter at this time.

Source: Sky Sports

 

[FearlessRoar]

MCC World Cricket committee (WCC) encourages ICC full member nations to ensure this 2024-27 four-year cycle concludes with the global game in the strongest possible health. It also calls on ICC full member nations to ring-fence a percentage of their increased distributions to support the growth of women’s cricket, escalating towards greater accountability of tagged spend in the next cycle.

The committee encourages a full exploration of new global growth markets for future media rights. As part of a wider financial audit, it calls for the current touring model to be reconsidered to redistribute income.

The MCC World Cricket committee (WCC) met in Cape Town last week, the first of two meetings taking place in 2024. The committee was generously hosted by the SA20 league and its commissioner and WCC committee member, Graeme Smith, at one of the competition’s final group games at Newlands, following two days of meetings. Members of the committee also visited the Catch Trust cricket programme in Khayelitsha, an MCC Foundation-partnered initiative that features South Africa’s first artificial township cricket field, providing local children with facilities and coaching.

The meeting occurred in the immediate aftermath of two fantastic men’s Test matches played in Brisbane and Hyderabad, which excited supporters of the Test match format, yet also left them ruing the absence of a possible third match decider in the Australia v West Indies two-match series. In support of the thrilling Test cricket currently being played and the importance of sustaining the traditional format of the game, the WCC recommends men’s Test series be played across a minimum of three matches from the next ICC Future Tours Programme (FTP) from 2028 onwards.

The WCC has long understood that the record media rights deal negotiated for broadcasting ICC events from 2024-2027 has delivered global cricket a generational opportunity over the upcoming four-year period. However, what has also become clear is that, despite this significant capital injection, many are doubting if it will deliver tangible universal gain. Whilst some have prospered, many full and associate members are clearly struggling. This gap is growing and if not addressed will affect the playing and, perhaps more importantly, the development programmes of the less-affluent, perhaps irrevocably, leading to a greater disparity of competitiveness. The WCC feels the ICC full member nations should take a more collegial approach to ensure that this period concludes with the global game in the strongest possible health.

Strategic funding

With its short-term financial certainty guaranteed, full and associate members will have budgeted for stable distributions until the end of the current cycle. However, beyond this expiry the game will likely face fresh challenges to sustain this level of investment, in what is expected to be a more constrained media rights market. As a consequence of these impending challenges, the global game now needs to be prudent with its spending in order to prioritise the advancement of current strategic objectives, whilst future-proofing the game’s growth targets and financial health.

The WCC questioned whether enough of this new revenue has been directly apportioned to strategic growth imperatives. Whilst the committee was delighted to read of the ICC decision to implement a strategic fund at its July 2023 meeting and applauds the full members for their vision, concern was raised at the time about whether women’s cricket specifically, at both competition and development levels and given its strategic importance to the game’s growth, was receiving sufficient funding across the board.

The committee reiterates its call upon ICC full member nations to now ring-fence a significant amount from their enhanced four-year ICC distributions to support the growth of women’s cricket. Beyond the expiry of this current funding cycle, the committee also recommends greater accountability of general distributions allocated directly to full member nations is implemented, to ensure that future core funding is tagged for specific strategic purposes.

New growth markets

The game owes a debt of gratitude to India, with its insatiable thirst for cricket driving the wealth in the global game. However, this reliance upon India belies the fact that the game needs to identify new markets to ensure its global growth, at a time when media rights beyond the current cycle are by no means guaranteed. With this uncertainty identified and on the back of the momentum built through this year’s ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in the USA and Caribbean and the build up to the 2028 Olympics in the USA, the acceleration of the USA as a growth market for cricket would seem a natural consideration.

Revenue sharing model for tours

The WCC has long been aware of the game’s global economics being heavily imbalanced and detrimental to touring teams who bear the cost of travel, whilst all revenue is retained by the host body based upon a historical expectation of ‘quid pro quo’ touring arrangements. With evidence emerging of this now creating inequalities the committee calls for this model to be reconsidered, with analysis to be conducted on the impact of home bodies absorbing these touring team costs as a way of redistributing income and adding greater context to all future bilateral cricket. This should form part of a broader audit of the current costs of the international game called for following the previous WCC meeting in July 2023.

The committee also feels the imbalance of the current FTP unfairly impacts some nations by restricting where valuable content can be played in calendar windows. From the commencement of the next cycle in 2028, it would be preferable for a more equitable split of matches to provide a more balanced opportunity for nations to access key dates and opposition.

UNFCCC Sports for Climate Action Framework
The WCC heard updates of progress made since its last meeting at Lord’s in July 2023, when Pat Cummins joined to discuss the importance of cricketing nations joining the UNFCCC Sports for Climate Action Framework. In October 2022, MCC became a signatory of the Framework, which aims at supporting and guiding sports clubs/bodies in achieving global climate change goals. The committee was pleased to observe several initiatives which have been implemented since that moment, including more cricketing bodies joining the framework such as the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), and reiterates its stance for more home boards to follow suit.

Kumar Sangakkara, Chair of WCC, said: “It’s time for courageous leadership and a united vision for the global game. Whilst the opportunities for cricket are enormous, the challenges are equally great and there must be stronger sense of collegiality amongst full members and all stakeholders for cricket to thrive. “MCC’s new event, World Cricket Connects, has been proposed as an opportunity for the most prominent thinkers and influencers in the global game to unite and reflect on the current state of play and openly debate the possibilities for all to benefit and move the game forward. “The WCC is positive about what can be achieved for the good of the game, but there must be no further delay, and we believe the suggestions set out in these statements are the right way forward.”

 

[The Bald Eagle]

MERVYN KING HAS BEEN NAMED AS THE NEXT PRESIDENT OF MCC. HE WILL SERVE A 12-MONTH TERM AS PRESIDENT, TAKING UP THE POST ON 1 OCTOBER 2024.

His appointment was announced by the current President, Mark Nicholas, at the Club’s Annual General Meeting held today.

Lord King of Lothbury is an economist who was Governor of the Bank of England for a decade between 2003 and 2013, following which he entered the House of Lords having been made a life peer. He was appointed by Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II as a Knight of the Garter in 2014.

Elected as a Member of MCC in 2003, Lord King’s lifelong passion for cricket was first nurtured as a boy watching Worcestershire at New Road. He went on to become President of the county club in 2015.

He co-founded Chance to Shine in 2005, along with Nicholas and the late Duncan Fearnley, to reinvigorate state school cricket and ensure that all children are given the opportunity to play the sport. The charity has gone on to make a huge impact on the lives of young people through cricket, with over 6 million children having taken part in their programmes.

Lord King said of his appointment: “It is an extraordinary honour to be asked by our current President to serve as the next President of MCC. I look forward to serving the Club and to promote the interests of our Members and of the game so many of us love.”

MCC President Mark Nicholas said: “There are few better people to fulfil the role of MCC President. Mervyn’s love of cricket knows no boundary; indeed, his love of sport extends to an equally enthusiastic enjoyment of both football and tennis.

"His calm authority and considerable wisdom carried the country through the global financial crisis of 2008 and now I feel sure that he will bring the MCC membership with him through a time of great interest and opportunity at the Club.

“Together we founded Chance to Shine in 2005. Since then, more than 6 million children, who would most likely not have played cricket have had the chance to do so. This makes us both so very proud. I can’t wait to stand alongside him again.”

Today’s Annual General Meeting at Lord’s was held in a hybrid format, with Members attending in person as well as online.

Source: Lords.org

 

[The Bald Eagle]

Plans for a £61.8m redevelopment of two stands at Lord's have been approved.

The work, voted through by Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) members last week, will increase the ground's capacity by 1,100 seats.

The existing Allen Stand will be demolished and rebuilt with an extra tier added.

Meanwhile, a fourth level will also be built on to the Tavern Stand.

Construction is due to begin at the end of the current season in September and be completed by 2027.

The redevelopment will provide improved catering, hospitality and accessibility, the MCC says.

A £53m project to redevelop the Compton and Edrich stands at Lord's was completed in 2021 to take capacity to 31,000.

Earlier this year, Middlesex County Cricket Club - a tenant at the ground which is owned by the MCC - said they were considering leaving Lord's.

Source: BBC

 

[FearlessRoar]

Stephen Fry lambasts MCC as ‘stinking of privilege and classism’​

Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) “stinks” of privilege and is full of “beetroot-coloured gentlemen”, Stephen Fry, its former president, has said.

The actor and writer has spoken of the “disturbing” image of the 237-year-old MCC, which he led from 2022 to 2023.

Fry said that the “privilege and classism” exemplified by the MCC “just stinks”, as he addressed issues of diversity and inclusion in cricket.

Speaking at the Hay Festival, the author said that the annual Eton versus Harrow match, traditionally hosted by the MCC at Lord’s, typified this class privilege.

Fry, 66, also skewered his fellow MCC members, saying of the club: “It has a public face that is deeply disturbing, sort of beetroot-coloured gentleman in yellow-and-orange blazers sitting in this space in front of the Long Room and looking as if they’d come out of an Edwardian cartoon.”

It was suggested that the image of the MCC could be a barrier to inclusion, during a discussion of class and racial barriers to young people enjoying the sport.

The actor’s comments came during a panel discussion on diversity in cricket featuring Azeem Rafiq, the former Yorkshire cricketer who from 2020 raised concerns about racial abuse at the club.

These complaints ultimately led to Yorkshire receiving a £400,000 fine and having 48 points docked.

This led to a further review of English cricket launched by the Independent Commission for Equity in Cricket, which concluded in a report last year that the sport was racist, sexist and elitist.

Fry has previously claimed that the sport of cricket would die if issues of racism were not addressed,

Speaking during a lecture at Lord’s in 2021 following Rafiq’s initial claims of racism, Fry said: “Unless all our nation’s sons and daughters with the talent and desire to have a life in cricket are confident that cricket will want to have a life with them, the spirit of cricket, its very flame, will flicker and go out.”

He called for “deep structural change” in the sport to address the issues raised by Rafiq.

Fry has also embraced changes in cricket to make the sport more gender-inclusive.

In 2021, the MCC approved alterations to the laws of the game – one of the MCC’s major remaining responsibilities within the sport – to ditch the time-honoured term “batsman” in favour of the gender-neutral “batter”.

Fry said that any opposition to the move would fade out, saying: “It’s only our generation, the generation of readers who are upset by ‘batter’, who will hiccup when they hear it, and wish to hear the old term. But it will very quickly pass.”

The actor was also among the famous figures who have called for women to be admitted to the male-only Garrick Club, signing a letter earlier this year threatening to quit if the rules were not amended.

Speaking at Hay, Fry said that it was awkward to be president of the MCC as a white man during the period when allegations of racism were first emerging.

He said: “I felt slightly embarrassed to be president of the MCC at exactly this time, because I thought I’m the perfect example of the problem has been for hundreds of years, largely, fleshy, white Englishmen, public school, Oxbridge, that are running things.”

Speaking at the event in Hay, Rafiq countered by saying that simply increasing diversity at a high level was not enough, and cited Rishi Sunak, the Prime Minister, as an example of diversity alone not solving problems.

He said that “middle-aged white men” had been his greatest supporters when he first levelled his allegations of racism.

The off-spin bowler added that more needed to be done to encourage racial inclusion in cricket, including pushing the social side of the sport away from focus on alcohol.

He said: “Club cricket, a lot of cricket, revolves around alcohol. The minute you turn up to a club, to the minute you leave, is around alcohol.

“It excludes Muslims and everyone that doesn’t drink.

“The game needs to evolve its economy so it doesn’t just, at the recreational level, just revolve around alcohol.”

Rafiq, 33, thanked Gary Ballance, his former Yorkshire teammate who admitted to being racist in the team’s dressing room and apologised in person for any offence.

Rafiq claimed that without Ballance’s “honesty”, the inquiry into alleged racism at Yorkshire would have been a “whitewash”, because no clear examples may have been found to support his claims.

MSN

www.msn.com

 

[The Bald Eagle]

Members of the Marylebone Cricket Club are calling for Stephen Fry to be suspended after he criticised the establishment for 'stinking of privilege and classism' at the Hay Literature Festival

In what is being referred to as 'Frygate' within club circles, several members have sent emails to the MCC board calling for the former president to be suspended after he breached disciplinary rules by 'bringing the club into disrepute'.

On Friday, Fry, 66, said: 'The MCC has a public face that is deeply disturbing. Beetroot-coloured gentlemen in yellow-and-orange blazers sitting in this space in front of the Long Room and looking as if they'd come out of an Edwardian cartoon.'

His comments were made on a panel discussing racism in cricket at the Welsh literature festival and have reportedly caused 'outrage' within the club where he is still a member and was president from 2022 to 2023.
An MCC member close to the club told the Mail: 'He spends the year swanning it at the MCC and soon as he is no longer president, he's slagging them off at Hay Literature.

His comments were made on a panel discussing racism in cricket at the Welsh literature festival and have reportedly caused 'outrage' within the club where he is still a member and was president from 2022 to 2023 (pictured: Lord's Cricket Ground where the MCC is based)

'The panel at the Hay festival was about racism in cricket and he chose to speak about beetroot old men in cricket. He was showboating as he always does.'

Fry could face suspension from the club over his comments as it reportedly takes one member to complain about another for the member in question to be called before a Disciplinary Committee led by a KC who will decide on any sanctions.

The author added that the annual Eton versus Harrow public school match, which is traditionally hosted by the 237-year-old club at Lord's Cricket Ground in north-west London, was a prime example of this privilege.

It comes after Fry was accused by the MCC member, Chris Waterman, of making racist and misogynistic jokes during a club dinner last year.

Mr Waterman alleged the QI host referred to an amateur cricket team called the Allahakbarries and joked the term 'Allahu akbar' was usually followed by a 'loud bang'.

But MCC bosses launched a disciplinary hearing into Mr Waterman rather than Fry, claiming he had brought the club into disrepute by putting the author's comments into the public domain.

In 2022, the MCC Chairman of the £800 a year club received a six-month suspension after a large number of members complained when he was over-heard making a misplaced gaffe about colostomy bags.

At the MCC's annual meeting, Bruce Carnegie Brown's microphone was switched back on before members had returned to their seats after a break.

Unknowingly, he whispered to the treasurer: 'I expect they are taking an age to empty their colostomy bags,' but it was overheard by a woman listening online and the Lloyds chairman was asked to make a large donation to Colostomy UK.

Earlier this month Fry threatened to quit the all-male Garrick Club unless members voted to admit women.

The motion passed, meaning women – possibly including classicist Dame Mary Beard and broadcaster Cathy Newman – can join the 193-year-old institution.

Source: Daily Mail

 

[FearlessRoar]

Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) is delighted to announce the latest cohort of Honorary Life Members

MCC awards Honorary Life Membership of the Club to some of the world’s finest cricketers and can today reveal the names of the latest men and women to have been bestowed with this privilege:

Stuart Broad – England (2006-2023)
Katherine Sciver-Brunt – England (2004-2023)
Dwayne Bravo - West Indies (2004-2021)
Deandra Dottin - West Indies (2008-2022)
Chris Gayle - West Indies (1999-2021)
Shabnim Ismail - South Africa (2007-2023)
Sana Mir – Pakistan (2005-2019)
Lizelle Lee - South Africa (2013-2022)
Dane van Niekerk - South Africa (2009-2021)
Mohammad Yousaf – Pakistan (1998-2010)

The Club has also announced that Honorary Life Membership has been awarded to former MCC Treasurers Justin Dowley and Tony Elgood.

The list of 10 former internationals includes some of the most recognisable names to have played in the modern era.

Stuart Broad called time on an incredible England career last summer, taking 604 Test wickets in his 167 matches. He features on the Honours Board at Lord’s four times and sits fifth on the all-time leading wicket taker list in men’s Tests – second in terms of fast bowlers.

Winning three World Cups and three Ashes series, seamer Katherine Sciver-Brunt ended her 19-year international career last year. With 335 wickets across all formats, she topped England’s wicket-taking list in both white-formats at the time of her retirement.

West Indies are represented three times on the list. Dwayne Bravo, who made his Test debut at Lord’s in 2004, went on to become one of the most decorated players in T20 International cricket since its inception, playing in seven World Cups and winning two of them.

Deandra Dottin made her name in the international game scoring a 38-ball century against South Africa at the 2010 World Cup. She retired as West Indies’ most capped women’s cricketer, having played 124 T20Is and 143 One-Day Internationals, scoring close to 6,500 runs and claiming 134 wickets.

A player whose style at the top of the order was similar across all formats, Chris Gayle is one of only four batters to have scored two triple-hundreds in Test matches. He made over 7,000 runs in his 103 Tests, more than 12,300 runs in 380 white-ball matches.

Shabnim Ismail was regarded as one of the quickest bowlers in the women’s game in her pomp. She is South Africa’s record wicket-taker in the white-ball formats and ended her fine career with 317 wickets in 241 matches.

Pakistan’s Sana Mir captained her country in 137 of her 226 international matches and was the first Pakistani bowler to reach 100 wickets in women’s ODIs. She took 240 international wickets before moving on to become a broadcaster within the game.

Lizelle Lee, an opening batter who was named ICC Women’s ODI Cricketer of the Year in 2022, played a century of matches for South Africa in ODIs. She scored over 3,300 ODI runs and over 1,800 runs in T20Is.

All-rounder Dane van Niekerk captained South Africa between 2016 and 2021 and the leg-spinner was the first Proteas woman to take 100 wickets in ODIs. She took over 200 wickets across all formats, whilst making over 4,000 runs in the process.

Mohammad Yousaf averaged 52.29 in his 90 Test matches for Pakistan, scoring over 7,500 runs, and making over 9,700 runs in 288 ODIs. He still holds the record for the most Test runs in a calendar year, scoring 1,788 runs in 2006.

Guy Lavender, MCC Chief Executive & Secretary, said: “As we make the final preparations for our first international match of the season at Lord’s, we are delighted to be able to announce our newest cohort of Honorary Life Members of MCC.

“The individuals announced today are some of the greatest international players in recent years, and we are honoured to welcome them as Members of our Club.

“We are also pleased to be able to announce two individuals who have been recognised for their exceptional contributions to MCC over a number of years.”

 

[Ball Blazer]

Ed Smith to become next President of MCC​

Ed Smith has been named as the next President of MCC. He will serve a 12-month term as President, taking up the post on 1 October 2025.

His appointment was announced today by the current President, Lord King of Lothbury, at the Club’s Annual General Meeting held at Lord’s.

Smith played for Kent, Middlesex and England in a career which spanned 13 seasons, scoring nearly 13,000 first-class runs, including 34 centuries. He also played for Cambridge University, graduating with a double first in History.

After retiring from the game in 2008, he embarked on a career in the media, authoring five books and writing for The Times and, most latterly, the New Statesman. He has also worked as a presenter on both radio and television, including as part of the BBC Test Match Special team.

In 2018, he became Chief Selector for the England men’s team. During his three-year tenure, England won the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup for the first time and enjoyed a period of success across all formats.

Smith is also involved in academia, as co-founder of the Institute of Sports Humanities (ISH), which has a mission to nurture and inspire sport’s current and future leaders. ISH teaches the MA Leadership in Sport in partnership with Loughborough University London.

Ed Smith said of his appointment: “It is a huge honour to succeed Lord King as President of MCC. Lord’s has been a special part of my life – as a cricket fan, a player and then as a selector. I am deeply committed to serving the Club – and the whole game – to the best of my ability.”

MCC President, Lord King, said: “The choice of my successor meets the twin criteria of being an outstanding first-class cricketer who played for England and a highly intelligent author and educator who is ideally equipped to help MCC navigate the challenges ahead. It is with enormous pleasure that I nominate Ed Smith as the President of MCC from 1 October 2025.”

It was announced last week that the Final of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup will be played at Lord’s in 2026, when Smith will be President. The Ground will also host Women’s Test cricket for the first time during his one-year term in office.

Source: https://www.lords.org/lords/news-stories/ed-smith-to-become-next-president-of-mcc

 

[BouncerGuy]

Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) is today delighted to announce that it has elected two cricketers to Honorary Life Membership, each of whom announced their retirement from the international game within the last two years.

Moeen Ali, one of England’s finest all-round cricketers, and Meg Lanning, who captained Australia to an unprecedented period of success, have both agreed to accept the Club’s offer and have now become Honorary Life Members of MCC.

Allrounder Moeen made his Test debut at Lord’s in 2014 and in all, went on to play 68 Tests, 138 One-Day Internationals and 92 T20 Internationals. He finished his international career with 6,678 runs and 366 wickets across all three formats.

He won the Ashes twice, both the 50-over and T20 World Cups and has a Test hat-trick to his name. He also holds the record for the fastest half-century in T20I cricket for England.

He sealed a place on the Lord’s Honours Boards in 2017 when he ripped through the South African batting order with match figures of 10 for 112, claiming the Player of the Match Award in one of his best all-round Test performances.

Moeen said: “It’s a tremendous honour to be awarded Honorary Life Membership of MCC. To be listed alongside so many cricketing greats is truly humbling.

“I’m really thankful to the Club for this, as being made an HLM is very special. I always enjoyed playing at Lord’s and it was an incredible feeling to walk out at such a historic venue.”

Lanning, who made her debut for Australia at 18 and went on to a become one of their greatest batters across a 13-year career, led her country to win the 50-over World Cup, four T20 World Cups and Commonwealth Games gold.

When she retired from the game in 2023, she had lifted more World Cup trophies as captain than anyone in the history of the game.

She scored 17 centuries across all three formats, which included over 100 matches in both white-ball formats. She skippered Australia in 182 of her 241 appearances, scoring a combined total of 8,352 international runs.

At Lord’s, she was on the winning side in both her ODI appearances and also scored a half-century for the Rest of the World XI against MCC in the Lord’s Bicentenary match of 2014. She made Lord’s her home last year, as she helped London Spirit to win The Hundred for the first time.

Lanning said: “I’m thrilled to be awarded Honorary Life Membership of MCC, becoming part of a prestigious Club and following in the footsteps of a long line of fantastic cricketers, both from Australia and around the world.

“It is a huge privilege, as it always has been to play at Lord’s both internationally and domestically, and I am honoured to accept the invitation.”

In the year since the Club announced its last cohort of Honorary Life Members, Sir James Anderson was also bestowed with the honour, with his membership presented by Mark Nicholas on the outfield at Lord’s as the legendary England bowler played his final Test match in July 2024.

Anderson, whose knighthood for services to cricket was announced earlier this year, played the last of his 188 Test matches against West Indies at Lord’s, ending his incredible career having taken 704 wickets – more than any other fast bowler in the history of the game.

Claire Taylor, Chair of MCC Cricket Committee, added: “With Lord’s preparing for its first international action of the new season, it is fantastic to see three more cricketers confirmed as Honorary Life Members of MCC.

“The list of Honorary Life Members includes many of the greatest cricketers to have played the game, and this latest cohort are no exception.

“They have made immeasurable contributions to the game both on and off the pitch, and we are honoured to welcome them as Members of our Club.”