The Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) is gearing up for its annual general meeting (AGM) scheduled for Wednesday at Lord’s, where the focus will be on addressing the stark gender divide within the club’s membership. The MCC currently has less than 3% women among its 18,350 full members. They know big changes are needed to increase the number of women represented and participating.
At the gathering, the bike club will focus on developing concrete action plans that will help bring more women into the male-dominated club. This step comes after the Independent Commission for Equity in Cricket (ICEC) highlighting MCC’s crucial place in leading the charge against sexism in the game. These comments from the ICEC were made in June 2023. As part of its commitment to this cause, MCC appointed Emma Marsh as a dedicated recruitment officer for women’s playing members, effective 2024.
The upcoming AGM represents a historic and important transition in leadership. Ed Smith, the former England batter, was due to have taken over as MCC’s new president from Lord King. Smith’s term started on October 1, and he will likely be at the forefront of efforts to make the club more inclusive and welcoming. The MCC is particularly annoyed with the lack of non-playing membership opportunity for women. With a backlog of almost 29 years for the program, the concern has bubbled up to a crisis point.
In recent years we have seen encouraging signs that progress is being made. Most impressive of all, women applying to qualify as player members of MCC in 2024 saw a stunning 77% rise. The number of women’s out-matches played by the club rose by 34%, indicating a growing interest in women’s cricket. Despite these advancements, England’s women have yet to play a Test match at Lord’s, with a historic match against India scheduled for 2026.
The impending discussions at the AGM will likely reflect both the challenges and opportunities facing the MCC as it seeks to create a more equitable environment for all members. The club has taken strong steps towards increasing female membership. It intentionally tangles with tradition’s barriers, trying to stay on the cutting edge of our society’s aspirations for inclusivity in sport.
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