New president announced

Richard Collins, a consultant surgeon at the East Kent NHS Trust, will be Kent's president for 2005.

Collins, 61, who has been Kent's medical adviser for the last 19 years and a committee member since 1999, was delighted with the nomination: "I am very conscious of the very notable names who have preceded me and will do my utmost to do all I can to help the cause of Kent cricket."

Although he doesn't have first-class playing experience, Collins enjoyed his club cricket, having represented Buckhurst Hill in the Essex League for 16 years, and he has been a full MCC member from 1968. Brian Luckhurst, the current president, will introduce Collins as his successor at the next AGM, in March.