Keith Bradshaw: next Secretary & Chief Executive of Marylebone Cricket Club

Date released: 30 January 2006

MCC has selected Keith Bradshaw (right), from a very large and extremely strong field of candidates, to succeed Roger Knight as its Secretary & Chief Executive.

A 42 year-old Australian, who played first-class cricket for Tasmania before embarking on a distinguished business career, Keith will take up his new role in October.

In addition to his three years' experience of State cricket in Australia - which included captaining Tasmania when David Boon was on international duty - Keith played the sport professionally in England in 1985, with Greenmount Cricket Club in Lancashire. In addition, he received an Esso scholarship in 1986 to play with Sussex CCC; while with the county, he represented Sidley Cricket Club (which is celebrating its centenary - helped by a match against MCC - this year).

Keith retired from first-class cricket, in 1988, to complete his studies at the University of Tasmania (where he graduated in Commerce) and pursue his commercial career, which has included spells with both PriceWaterhouse and Deloitte (where he is a Partner).

He has worked on a wide variety of projects, both in Australia and elsewhere, and in both the public and the private sectors. At the same time, Keith remains an active cricketer who is equally committed to coaching young players.

The MCC Chairman, Charles Fry (right), said: "We are delighted to have found Keith for this appointment. He has all the attributes we were seeking. As well as having played first-class cricket in a highly competitive environment, Keith has a high level of commercial and management experience, which is essential for an organisation with a turnover of more than £23 million a year. Equally importantly, we believe that Keith has the right skills and personality for the task of leading one of the country's largest members' clubs."

Commenting on his appointment, Keith Bradshaw said: "I am delighted and extremely honoured to have been selected as the next Secretary & Chief Executive. I have long regarded MCC as the finest, most active and most respected cricket club in the world. I am determined to play my part in maintaining its values, upholding its traditions and continuing to improve Lord's - which is not only MCC's home, but the spiritual home of world cricket. Indeed, the appointment of an overseas Secretary & Chief Executive demonstrates that MCC is a truly international organisation, which works for the good of the game right across the globe. It is fantastic, for example, that one of its teams is currently touring Argentina - playing some of the 500 or so fixtures that MCC arranges each year."

Keith continued: "I would like to pay tribute to the retiring Secretary & Chief Executive, Roger Knight, and to the outstanding contribution that he has made to the Club, and to cricket. One of my roles will be to continue his great work and help the Committee lead MCC - the guardian of the Laws and Spirit of Cricket - into what promises to be another exciting era."

He added: "Lord's hold a very special place in every cricketer's heart and I know from my own experience that every young Australian who ever put on a pad aspires, as I did, to one day walk through the Long Room on to the 'hallowed turf'. This is true the world over. While I never fulfilled that dream as a player, I will be incredibly fortunate to start playing a part in keeping Lord's truly special for players and spectators alike. On a personal note, my family and I are all excited to be re-locating to St John's Wood. I have many treasured memories of my previous times in Britain, as a professional cricketer, and I look forward to making or renewing many friendships - not least with MCC Members, the Club's staff and other members of the cricketing community."