Cricket's immortals: Clare Connor CBE

Women's cricket achieved a major breakthrough at the 2017 ICC Women's Cricket World Cup as a nerveless England triumphed over India in the finals at Lord's cricket ground. The scenes in the iconic ground's lore were unforgettable, and will the game will be etched as one of the most dramatic women's matches ever played in the memories of the fans. This was a landmark game: a sell-out crowd, astronomical television ratings, and getting over 180 million views as per the International Cricket Council (ICC) sources. Three years on, the women's game gained achieved yet another landmark.

The ICC Women's T20 World Cup became the most-watched women's cricket event ever, smashing the viewing figures of the 2017 ICC Women's Cricket World Cup. A record 701 million video views were clocked across the ICC’s digital and social platforms, attracting 34 million engagements and two billion impressions with fans on social channels. On International Women's Day, the famous Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) was host to the finals of the 2020 ICC Women's T20 Cricket World Cup, and bumper attendance figures were achieved as 86,174 spectators witnessed the finals between Australia and India. Over the years, Cricket Australia’s (CA) Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL) – the T20 domestic competition – has been an unparalleled success and gained important free-to-air exposure, and fans are witnessing the growth of women in the sport.

Amidst the success on the field, the game has taken a major stride off the field in appointing Clare Connor, CBE as the next president of the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC). The former captain of the England women's cricket team is set to be the first female president in the club's 233-year history, and the announcement was made by the current president and Sri Lankan legend Kumar Sangakkara. In a statement, a proud Clare Connor said: "I am deeply honored to be named the next president of MCC. Cricket has enriched my life so deeply already, and now it hands me this wonderful privilege." Meanwhile, a thrilled Sangakkara added: "The club has a significant role to play in cricket's global appeal and with her influence, I am sure she will make a considerable contribution to MCC."

Clare 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. Alongside her cricketing career, she taught English Literature and had been Head of PR at Brighton College. Post-retirement, she was appointed as the ECB’s Head of Women’s Cricket in 2007 and also served as a director on the board of Sussex Cricket and Sport England.

The fight towards inclusivity has been long and hard, especially in getting women into what was strictly a male preserve, "gentleman's club". The 233-year-old Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) and its Lord’s ground are hailed as the Mecca of cricket and for most of their existence, they have been much about tradition as incongruity couched in perpetuity. The club took 211 years to table its first proposal to include women in 1998 after increasing pressure from sponsors and partners but the proposal failed to pass. The then British prime minister Tony Blair called the club "out of step" and after widespread condemnation, the MCC reluctantly voted in favor of admitting women and in March 1999 the first ten women to walk into the Long Room at Lord's included England's legendary world cup winning captain Rachael Heyhoe Flint. Till that day, only one woman was allowed into the Long Room - the Queen.

The MCC is known for its contributions towards uplifting communities across the UK and overseas and in bringing people together. Reflecting on her journey, Connor mentioned: "We often need to look back to see how far we've come. I made my first visit to Lord's as a starry-eyed, cricket-obsessed nine-year-old girl at a time when women were not welcome in the Long Room (of the pavilion)." As the current chair of the International Cricket Council's women's cricket committee, Connor believes that times have changed, and her role as the future president of the MCC is an opportunity to make one of cricket's most influential club more inclusive and modern.

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