Gatting MCC prez
London, May 2: Former England captain Mike Gatting was named President of the historic Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC).
The 55-year-old, who played his county cricket for Middlesex whose home is the MCC-owned Lord’s Ground, will assume his duties on October 1.
He was chosen by the current President, Mike Griffith, who announced the appointment at the Club’s AGM on Thursday.
Gatting will serve as President during a momentous year for both Lord’s Ground and Middlesex.
MCC — who revised the laws of cricket in 1788, reissue them from time to time and hold the copyright to them — will celebrate the Bicentenary of Lord's in 2014, and Middlesex the 150th anniversary of its formation.
Gatting made his firstclass debut in 1975 and stayed with Middlesex for his entire 23-year career, scoring 94 centuries and taking 158 wickets. He made his England debut in 1978 in Karachi, and, in total, played 79 Tests for his country.
He was appointed England captain in 1986 and, although he managed to win only two of his 23 Former England captain Mike Gatting, who has been named the new president of the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC), will oversee the ambitious £200-million makeover plan of the iconic Lord’s Cricket Ground.
MCC, which retains responsibility for the game’s laws and is the owner of the Lord’s, is also set to celebrate the bicentenary of the ‘Mecca of cricket’ in 2014.
“Lord’s is a fantastic, iconic ground, the envy of the cricketing world, but there is significant work to do if MCC is to maintain its long-term stated ambition to continue to own the finest cricket ground in the world.
“The ground is looking tired in places and somewhat under-loved and it is vital MCC provides an outstanding experience for visitors to Lord’s” said Colin Maber, chairman of the MCC's ground working party and estates committee. — AFP tests in charge, they were the two that secured England’s Ashes victory in Australia in 1986-87.
He also captained England to the 1987 World Cup final against Australia but his illjudged reverse sweep which saw him caught off Allan Border's first ball was the pivotal moment in the Australians winning the trophy.
His captaincy ended in disgrace when, already in the spotlight for an undignified row with Pakistani umpire Shakoor Rana on the England tour of Pakistan in 1987, tabloid stories over a dalliance with a barmaid brought his tenure to a close.
He has, though, since retiring as a player in 1998 proved himself to be a highly capable administrator in the sport.
Griffith said he was delighted someone who was so indelibly linked to Lord’s should succeed him. “Few people are so closely identified with Lord’s as Mike Gatting, and I am delighted that he accepted my invitation to serve as President of MCC,” he said. — PTI