Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC), the custodian of the famous Lord’s Cricket Ground, is preparing 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 made a life peer in 2014, said he was delighted with the honour. “It is an extraordinary honor 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 promoting the interests of our members and the game so many of us love.”
King’s connection to cricket goes beyond his new role at MCC. He co-founded the charity Chance to Shine with Nicholas in 2005. This initiative aims to “revitalize” cricket in state schools and provide opportunities for around 600,000 children and young adults each year. King’s commitment to the sport is also demonstrated by his previous 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 supports King’s Leadership: A Smooth Transition
Outgoing President Nicholas praised King’s appointment. Highlighting their joint 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… That makes us both like I can do it can’t wait to be by his side again.
Nicholas continued to praise King’s qualifications, calling him “one of the better people to fulfill the role of MCC president.” He praised King’s deep love of cricket and his wider sporting interests, while expressing confidence in his ability to lead MCC through a period of “great interest and opportunity”.
MCC welcomes change: a new chapter full of uncertainties
King’s appointment comes at a time of significant change for MCC. The club’s traditional role in English cricket continues to evolve. A proposal from the ECB to open The Hundred, a recently launched 100-ball cricket tournament, to private investment could see MCC take a 51 per cent equity stake in London Spirit, the Hundred team based at Lord’s . The final decision on this proposal rests with the first-class counties.
With a new president at the helm and the possibility of a significant financial stake in The Hundred, MCC is entering a period of change. Lord King’s experience, coupled with his passion for cricket, suggests he is well equipped to manage these changes and ensure the continued success of this historic cricketing institution.
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