Clare Connor Announces Exit from ECB
Clare Connor, managing director of England women’s cricket, will leave the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) following this summer’s home Women’s T20 World Cup. Connor also serves as the ECB’s deputy chief executive and has spent 18 years shaping English cricket.
From Star Player to Influential Administrator
Before joining the ECB, Connor had a stellar playing career. She earned 111 caps over ten years and captained England to a historic Ashes win in 2005, ending a 42-year drought against Australia. Alongside cricket, she worked as a teacher.
Connor became the first female president of the Marylebone Cricket Club in 2021-22. She also made history by joining the International Cricket Council’s cricket committee and continues to chair its women’s cricket committee. Between 2022 and 2023, she served as ECB interim chief executive.
Transforming Women’s Cricket
During her tenure, Connor helped move English women’s cricket from amateur status to the professional era. She oversaw multiple reforms in the domestic structure and worked to make the sport more accessible and inclusive for girls and women.
Connor said, “Helping to grow women’s cricket for the past 18 years has been an absolute privilege. My goal has always been to make cricket as normal for a girl as it is for a boy. Knowing that the sport is now more inclusive and gender-balanced is deeply rewarding.”
Departure After the World Cup
Connor’s decision to leave is personal. Her exit will come after the Women’s T20 World Cup concludes with the final at Lord’s on July 5. Her legacy includes not only her playing achievements but also her lasting impact on women’s cricket administration.
