Former England captain Clare Connor took charge as the president of the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) on Friday. She also becomes the first woman ever to hold the post in the 234-year-old history of the club. 
 
Her nomination was announced by her predecessor, former Sri Lanka captain Kumar Sangakkara at the Annual General Meeting in 2020. Clare now takes over from Sangakkara after his term was extended to two years because of Covid-19 pandemic. Clare, who is currently the ECB`s Managing Director of Women`s Cricket, was made an Honorary Life Member of MCC in 2009. 
 
"I am truly honoured to be MCC President and would like to thank Kumar Sangakkara for putting his faith in me to deliver this enormously important role, for the good of the sport I have loved all my life. I will try to bring my range of experiences from the dressing room and the boardroom to support, influence and work alongside the Club`s leadership and committees over the next 12 months. I am really looking forward to being part of the MCC team," said Clare in a statement by the MCC. 
 
Clare made her England debut in 1995 as a 19-year-old. She took over the captaincy of England in 2000, leading England at Lord`s against Australia a year later. An all-rounder who bowled left-arm spin, Connor led England women`s team to their first Ashes triumph in 42 years, overseeing a 1-0 series win in 2005. 
 
After retiring from the game shortly after winning the Ashes, Clare moved towards developing the women`s and girls` game. As the ECB`s Managing Director of Women`s Cricket she oversaw the introduction of central contracts for England women`s players in 2014, the ICC World Cup win in front of a full house at Lord`s in 2017 and the introduction of professional contracts for female domestic cricketers in 2020. 
 
Apart from Clare, Bruce Carnegie-Brown has taken charge as the sixth Chairman of the MCC. Carnegie-Brown has been a full member of the MCC since 1997 and joined the Club`s Finance committee in October 2019. 
 
"It is a privilege to be MCC`s next Chairman and to increase my involvement with such a special Club.I look forward to working with the Club`s Members to ensure that the Home of Cricket continues to provide a world class venue and warm welcome to players and visitors from around the country and internationally. On behalf of the Club`s membership, I would like to express my gratitude to my predecessor, Gerald Corbett who did an outstanding job of leading the Club through the pandemic, while also overseeing the construction of the fabulous new Compton and Edrich stands, which opened this summer." 
 
--IANS 
 
nr/bsk 
&nbsp;

Former England captain Clare Connor took charge as the president of the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) on Friday. She also becomes the first woman ever to hold the post in the 234-year-old history of the club.

Former England captain Clare Connor took charge as the president of the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) on Friday. She also becomes the first woman ever to hold the post in the 234-year-old history of the club. Her nomination was announced by her predecessor, former Sri Lanka captain Kumar Sangakkara at the Annual General Meeting in 2020. Clare now takes over from Sangakkara after his term was extended to two years because of Covid-19 pandemic. Clare, who is currently the ECB`s Managing Director of Women`s Cricket, was made an Honorary Life Member of MCC in 2009. "I am truly honoured to be MCC President and would like to thank Kumar Sangakkara for putting his faith in me to deliver this enormously important role, for the good of the sport I have loved all my life. I will try to bring my range of experiences from the dressing room and the boardroom to support, influence and work alongside the Club`s leadership and committees over the next 12 months. I am really looking forward to being part of the MCC team," said Clare in a statement by the MCC. Clare made her England debut in 1995 as a 19-year-old. She took over the captaincy of England in 2000, leading England at Lord`s against Australia a year later. An all-rounder who bowled left-arm spin, Connor led England women`s team to their first Ashes triumph in 42 years, overseeing a 1-0 series win in 2005. After retiring from the game shortly after winning the Ashes, Clare moved towards developing the women`s and girls` game. As the ECB`s Managing Director of Women`s Cricket she oversaw the introduction of central contracts for England women`s players in 2014, the ICC World Cup win in front of a full house at Lord`s in 2017 and the introduction of professional contracts for female domestic cricketers in 2020. Apart from Clare, Bruce Carnegie-Brown has taken charge as the sixth Chairman of the MCC. Carnegie-Brown has been a full member of the MCC since 1997 and joined the Club`s Finance committee in October 2019. "It is a privilege to be MCC`s next Chairman and to increase my involvement with such a special Club.I look forward to working with the Club`s Members to ensure that the Home of Cricket continues to provide a world class venue and warm welcome to players and visitors from around the country and internationally. On behalf of the Club`s membership, I would like to express my gratitude to my predecessor, Gerald Corbett who did an outstanding job of leading the Club through the pandemic, while also overseeing the construction of the fabulous new Compton and Edrich stands, which opened this summer." --IANS nr/bsk

Former England captain Clare Connor takes charge as MCC's first female President

Former England women's 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 Cricket Board's head of women's cricket, is set to take up her new post on October 1, 2021, subject to the membership's approval.

Presidents of MCC usually remain in post for one year but Sangakkara's term is set to be extended by a further 12 months because of the coronavirus pandemic.

It was not until 1998 that MCC, which owns Lord's Cricket Ground, voted to allow women to become members.&nbsp;

Prior to that, Britain's Queen Elizabeth II was one of the few women allowed in the Lord's pavilion.

"I am deeply honoured to be named the next president of MCC," said Connor in a statement.

"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 (of the pavilion).

<h2>- 'Times have changed' -</h2>

The 43-year-old Connor, now the chair of the International Cricket Council's women's cricket committee, added: "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."

Meanwhile Sangakkara said he was "thrilled" by Connor's latest cricket appointment, the Sri Lanka great adding: "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."

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.

Although MCC no longer runs English cricket, it has worldwide responsibility for the sport's rules.

Former England women's 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.

Former England women's 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 Cricket Board's head of women's cricket, is set to take up her new post on October 1, 2021, subject to the membership's approval. Presidents of MCC usually remain in post for one year but Sangakkara's term is set to be extended by a further 12 months because of the coronavirus pandemic. It was not until 1998 that MCC, which owns Lord's Cricket Ground, voted to allow women to become members. Prior to that, Britain's Queen Elizabeth II was one of the few women allowed in the Lord's pavilion. "I am deeply honoured to be named the next president of MCC," said Connor in a statement. "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 (of the pavilion). - 'Times have changed' - The 43-year-old Connor, now the chair of the International Cricket Council's women's cricket committee, added: "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." Meanwhile Sangakkara said he was "thrilled" by Connor's latest cricket appointment, the Sri Lanka great adding: "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." 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. Although MCC no longer runs English cricket, it has worldwide responsibility for the sport's rules.

Connor to be first female MCC president in 233 years

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Former England captain Clare Connor takes charge as MCC's first female President

Connor to be first female MCC president in 233 years