Ex-Sussex skipper is set to make MCC history

Former Sussex and England captain Clare Connor has described her pride at finding out she will become the first female president of the MCC in its 233-year history.

The 43-year-old, currently ECB managing director of women’s cricket, will take up her new role on October 1 next year, replacing former Sri Lanka captain, Kumar Sangakkara.

Connor, who came to prominence in Sussex while captaining Preston Nomads’ under-16s, also captained the county’s women’s side and made her England debut as a teenager in 1995.

She said: “I am deeply honoured to be named the next president of MCC.

“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, cricketobsessed nine-year-old girl at a time when women were not welcome in the Long Room. Times have changed.

“Now I’m 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.

“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.”

Connor made her England debut aged 19 and took over the captaincy in 2000, leading England at Lord’s against Australia a year later.

An all-rounder who bowled left-arm spin, Connor led England women to their first Ashes triumph in 42 years, a 1-0 series win in 2005.

The Ashes win was the culmination of her six-year stint as captain of her country and she retired from the game shortly after. She was appointed as the ECB’s head of women’s cricket in 2007, having previously taught English literature and been head of PR at Brighton College alongside cricket work.

Her ECB role expanded last year when she was made MDof the women’s game. She 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.

Sangakkara added: “I am thrilled that Clare has accepted the invitation to become the next president.”