Clare Connor set to become first female MCC President next year

Former England captain Clare Connor has accepted the invitation to replace Kumar Sangakkara for the role of President of the prestigious Marylebone Cricket Club in the month of October next year. Connor, currently the managing director of the England Women’s Cricket team at the ECB, is set to become the first female president in the 233 year old history of the club.

The Brighton born left arm spin bowling all rounder, who scored 1,087 runs and took 80 wickets in her 93 One Day Internationals, taking the reigns of the national team from 2000 until her retirement in 2006, expressed her pride and elation of being elected as president by saying, “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.”

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She continued, “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.”

Connor will be replacing Kumar Sangakkara, former Sri Lankan wicketkeeper batsman and the first Non-British MCC president. Sangakkara has been invited to remain in the role of president for a second 12-month tenure due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Should Sangakkara’s two-year term be approved, Connor’s tenure will start on October 1, 2021 and conclude on September 30, 2022.

Here’s what the former Sri Lankan captain had to say on Connor’s acceptance of the role of MCC president, “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.”