Clare Connor steps up as MCC's first female President

Clare Connor, England Women's former Ashes-winning captain, has taken office at Lord's as the first female President of MCC in the club's 234-year history.

Connor, who is also Director of Women's Cricket at the ECB, was nominated for the role at the club's AGM back in 2020, but her tenure was delayed by a year due to Covid-19, with her predecessor Kumar Sangakkara staying on for a second term.

"I am truly honoured to be MCC President," Connor said, "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".

Connor 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 allrounder 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.

She retired from the game soon after that series, and in 2009 was made an Honorary Life Member of MCC, only a decade after the first female members had been admitted to the club.

Her career in administration has included the introduction of central contracts for England women's players in 2014, and the first tranche of domestic contracts for female cricketers in 2020. England's World Cup win, in front of a full house at Lord's in 2017, helped to elevate the profile of the women's game in the UK, while Connor was also a central figure in this summer's successful launch of the women's Hundred.

Aside from her ECB duties, Connor has been chair of the ICC Women's Cricket Committee since 2011, and has served as a director on the board of Sussex Cricket and Sport England.

MCC have also confirmed Bruce Carnegie-Brown as the club's new chairman. He takes over from Gerald Corbett, whose maximum six years in office ended on 30 September 2021.

Carnegie-Brown is currently chairman of Lloyd's of London and vice-chairman of Santander Banking Group, and has been a full member of MCC since 1997.

"It is a privilege to be MCC's next chairman and to increase my involvement with such a special club," he said. "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."