Clare Connor takes charge as MCC's first female president

Former England captain Clare Connor took charge as president of the Marylebone Cricket Club, becoming the first woman to hold the post in the club's 234-year-old history.

Connor's nomination was announced by her predecessor, Sri Lankan legend Kumar Sangakkara, at the Annual General Meeting last year but she had to wait for a year to take charge due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Clare takes over from the former Sri Lanka captain after his term was extended to two years because of the pandemic.

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Connor, who is currently the ECB's Managing Director of Women's Cricket, was made an Honorary Life Member of the MCC in 2009.

On her appointment, Connor, in a statement from the MCC, said: "I am truly honoured to be MCC President 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.

Bruce Carnegie-Brown took office as the MCC chairman on Friday.