The Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC), the custodian of the famed Lord’s Cricket Ground, is gearing up for a change in leadership. Mervyn King, the former Governor of the Bank of England, has been appointed as the club’s next president. He will succeed Mark Nicholas when his term ends in October 2024.
King Honored by Prestigious Appointment
King, who currently holds the title of Lord King after being appointed a life peer in 2014, expressed his delight at the honour. “It is an extraordinary honour to be asked by our current president to serve as the next president of MCC,” he said. “I look forward to serving the club and to promote the interests of our members and of the game so many of us love.”
King’s association with cricket extends beyond his new role at MCC. He co-founded the Chance to Shine charity alongside Nicholas in 2005. This initiative aims to “reinvigorate” state-school cricket, providing opportunities for around 600,000 children and young adults every year. King’s dedication to the sport is further demonstrated by his past role as president of Worcestershire County Cricket Club in 2015 and 2016, a position he described as “one of the proudest moments of my life.”
Nicholas Endorses King’s Leadership: A Smooth Transition
The outgoing president, Nicholas, spoke highly of King’s appointment. Highlighting their shared success with Chance to Shine, he stated, “Together we founded Chance to Shine in 2005… Since then, more than six million children… have had the chance to play cricket… This makes us both so very proud. I can’t wait to stand alongside him again.”
Nicholas went on to praise King’s qualifications, calling him “one of the better people to fulfil the role of MCC president.” He commended King’s deep love for cricket and his broader sporting interests, while expressing confidence in his ability to lead MCC through a period of “great interest and opportunity.”
MCC Embraces Change: A New Chapter with Uncertainties
King’s appointment comes at a time of significant change for MCC. The club’s traditional role within English cricket is evolving. A proposal by the ECB to open The Hundred, a recently launched 100-ball cricket tournament, to private investment could see MCC receiving a 51% equity stake in London Spirit, the Hundred team based at Lord’s. The final decision on this proposition rests with the first-class counties.
With a new president at the helm and the potential for a significant financial stake in The Hundred, MCC is poised for a period of transformation. Lord King’s experience, coupled with his passion for cricket, suggests he is well-equipped to navigate these changes and ensure the continued success of this historic cricket institution.
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