Lord’s ought to think about not internet hosting the annual Eton versus Harrow faculty match to make sure cricket stays “related”, says new MCC president Mark Nicholas.
The fixture is at the moment set to stay on the floor till at the very least 2027.
“The world modifications, duties change,” Nicholas advised The Times.
“I really like the traditions, however it has to stay related, and that fixture shouldn’t be as related because it was, and I feel there’ll come a time when the headmasters of each colleges agree that they’ve moved on from it too, after which there might be a pure shift away from it having to be performed right here.”
The Eton versus Harrow faculty match and the college fixture between Cambridge and Oxford have been performed at Lord’s because the early nineteenth century.
Nonetheless, these contests between the celebrated instructional institutions have develop into divisive on the MCC – Marylebone Cricket Membership – which owns the London venue.
A call final yr by the membership’s govt to relocate the fixtures sparked a protest from some MCC members and a compromise was reached, earlier than a evaluation and a attainable vote.
Transferring each fixtures was amongst 44 suggestions within the ICEC report, revealed in June, which stated that racism, sexism, classism and elitism are “widespread” within the recreation in England and Wales.
Broadcaster and former Hampshire captain Nicholas, who succeeded actor Stephen Fry as MCC president on Sunday, says shifting the match may assist make cricket extra inclusive.
“We do not get massive crowds for it, we get nearly no crowd for the Eton-Harrow fixture, besides of the boys and a number of the outdated boys, however we’re speaking most 3,000 or 4,000. I’ve three stepsons who all went to Eton, who do not assume there’s any case for the sport being performed at Lord’s, in no way,” stated the 65-year-old.
“I stand for the membership but additionally my very own beliefs. We’ve got to have a look at giving house and time to youthful members and definitely to increase the enjoying a part of the membership additional for women and girls.”
Although the put up of MCC president is an honorary place, rotated on an annual foundation, those that maintain the function can exert affect over points within the recreation.
Earlier MCC presidents embrace former England worldwide Clare Connor, former Sri Lanka batter Kumar Sangakkara, and former journalist and BBC Check Match Particular commentator Christopher Martin-Jenkins.