England’s World Cup-winning former captain Eoin Morgan has been made Chair of Cricket at the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) while former selector Ed Smith has started a 12-month long tenure as president. The Club, which owns the historic Lord’s Cricket Ground and is responsible for the Laws of Cricket – the code that specifies the rules of the game worldwide, said in a statement that the appointments were made in its May annual general meeting and that the appointees are taking charge from October 1.
“MCC Members approved the appointment of Morgan for a three-year term at the AGM in May. Morgan scored almost 7,000 runs in One-Day International cricket for England, captaining the team in both ODI and T20 cricket with distinction and becoming one of the most respected and successful international skippers in the modern era,” said the Club’s statement.
“He possesses a special link with Lord’s, having represented Middlesex for 17 years, and also lifted the ICC Men’s World Cup trophy at the end of an unforgettable final against New Zealand in 2019. He is an Honorary Life Member of MCC and also captained London Spirit in The Hundred.”
Smith played for Kent, Middlesex and England in a career which spanned 13 seasons, scoring nearly 13,000 first-class runs, including 34 centuries. He also played for Cambridge University, graduating with a double first in History. In 2018, he became Chief Selector for the England men’s team. It was during his three-year tenure that Morgan led England to their first-ever men’s ICC World Cup title.
Smith succeeds Mervyn King, Baron King of Lothbury as president while Morgan succeeds Claire Taylor who comes to the end of her six-year tenure in the role. “It is a huge honour to succeed Lord King as President of MCC. Lord’s has been a special part of my life – as a cricket fan, a player and then as a selector – and this is a fascinating moment in the club’s history. I’m looking forward to serving the Club – and the wider game – to the best of my ability,” Smith said in the club’s statement. The MCC further announced Richard Baldwin is the new Chair of Estates, succeeding Jim Johnston after six years in the role.
