Sanga ends MCC presidency with historic handover
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 all-rounder 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.
The Ashes win was the culmination of her six-year stint as
captain of her country, retiring from the game shortly thereafter.
Connor is passionate about developing the women’s and girls’
game and as the ECB’s Managing Director of Women’s Cricket she oversaw the
introduction of central contracts for England women’s players in 2014, the ICC
World Cup win in front of a full house at Lord’s in 2017 and the introduction
of professional contracts for female domestic cricketers in 2020. (Lord’s)
Source newswire
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