Former England Captain Clare Connor To Become First Female MCC President In 233 Years

Clare Connor, former captain of England's women's cricket team is all set to become the first female president of Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC), the historic feat was announced on Wednesday. She will take over the reign from current President Kumar Sangakkara (former captain of the Sri Lankan national team). In MCC’s 233-year-old history, this is the first time a woman would chair as the president. Connor, the England and Wales Cricket Board's head of women's cricket, will join to her new post on October 1, 2021.

"I am deeply honoured to be named the next president of MCC," hailed Connor, 43, who was nominated by Sangakkara, the first non-British MCC president.

"Cricket has enriched my life so deeply already, and now it hands me this wonderful privilege," Connor further stated. The club allowed women to become members only in 1998.

What You Should Know

• Former England women’s captain Clare Connor will become the first female president of the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC).
• She will replace current President Kumar Sangakkara and is expected to take charge of the position for a year from October 2021.
• At present, Connor is the managing director of women’s cricket at the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB).

Talking further about her journey, Connor said in a statement, “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.”

Connor made her debut in the team at the age of 19 in 1995. She became captain five years later and led the side to an Ashes victory in 2005. During her 14-year cricketing career, Connor earned the tag of one of the highly respected figures in the game. She is also known as a long-serving captain. She was appointed ECB's head of women's cricket in 2007, and later she was honoured as a life-member of the MCC after retirement in 2009.

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'Times have changed'

The 43-year-old Connor is, at present, busy handling the administration works for the International Cricket Council's women's cricket committee. She added that she is looking forward to work in a much inclusive space now. “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,” The Hindu reported.

Feature Image Credit: Daily Mail

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