Lord's in winter: John Stephenson

Date released: 24 November 2009

Lord's in winter: Head of Cricket, John Stephenson What happens at Lord's during the close season? MCC Assistant Secretary and Head of Cricket, John Stephenson explains what his department is up to: from Gilchrist to pink balls.

In this, part one of three, Stephenson talks about the highs and lows of a trying few weeks at Lord's - from signing Adam Gilchrist to newspaper leaks.

• Listen to the interview extract (5.1 MB)

Room with a view

Despite the rather grand (if long-winded) title of Assistant Secretary (Cricket & Estates) on his door John Stephenson is like many other 'heads of department' in offices around the country.

Over-view: Stephenson's office looks out on the Lord's pitch His office overlooks the shop floor - it's just that his shop floor is the hallowed turf of the world's most famous cricket ground - Lord's.

So what does the man in charge of cricket at the world's most active cricket club do when there's no cricket? Spend a lot of time on the phone apparently - even during our interview Stephenson's phone flashed away relentlessly.

Given the events of the days leading up to this that's hardly surprising.

In the previous two days national newspapers have leaked stories from the untrue claim that naming rights to Lord's would be sold to a sponsor; to the thrilling (and true) news that MCC have helped Middlesex sign Australia legend Adam Gilchrist and are doing their damndest to get India hero Sachin Tendulkar to Lord's too.

With the prospect of those two world stars playing in floodlit Twenty20 matches at Lord's next season Stephenson is in an understandably excited mood:

"Obviously Gilchrist has signed for us. We’ve managed to secure three Thursday [Twenty20] nights at Lord’s. I was hoping it’d be four but one of those [matches] moved to a Tuesday day game; and we’ve got a Sunday day game - that should be ok.

"We’ve got a great opportunity to play these games, under lights, with some fantastic cricketers. It’s going to be a spectacle."

An interesting choice of wording: Gilchrist signed for "us". A laughing Stephenson adds:

"We’re both the beneficiaries - if we get 20,000 people here it’ll be a great atmosphere and we’ll boost the finances of Middlesex and the Club so everyone will be a winner."

And what of claims that by aiding Middlesex in this way MCC are skewing the competition?

"You could look at it that way but the fact is we’ve got a ground that we need to fill as much as we can. We’ve got an opportunity to [do this] - Twenty20 cricket, under lights - so what’s the best way to do that? It’s to attract the best players we can.

"MCC and Middlesex have to work together - it’s a natural progression.

"I see this as just a step closer, us having a good working relationship and trying to bring some success to Lord’s."

Speaker to 'keeper

Gilchrist was at Lord's last year but very much as a retired cricketer - having the odd dash in the IPL (he lead his Deccan Chargers side to the IPL title).

Gilchrist delivering the MCC Spirit of Cricket Cowdrey Lecture Gilchrist even delivered the MCC Spirit of Cricket Cowdrey Lecture - so how did he go from that to pulling on his pads at Lord's again?

"Well I got him, through his agent, to come to the Cowdrey Lecture - so I had a relationship with Gilchrist and his agent." Stephenson explains.

"When it came to ideas for next year and Middlesex, we talked about bringing in two big names.

"Obviously I had contact with Gilchrist anyway so I pursued him - relentlessly.

"I went out, met him in India... and it all worked out.

"It worked out because it fitted with his schedule as well and the fact that he had never played county cricket before helped - he loves Lord’s, it’s an opportunity for him before he retires, to do something in county cricket.

"And it works because he’ll have just come off the IPL, so he’ll be fit.

"It ticked all the boxes for us and for him and he’s a great ambassador. He’ll work for us as an ambassador of the Spirit of Cricket. It just really seemed to fit."

Rumours about Tendulkar having already signed are a little wide of the mark, as Stephenson explains:

"In terms of Sachin - if he comes - it’s the same thing. I have a relationship with him - he comes over here anyway and we felt that with... whatever happens, when you have an Indian influence over here you get crowds and he’s a legend.

"He’s good for the spirit of the game, he’s got an unblemished career - he transcends everything really. We feel that, if we could get him, it’d put bums on seats."

How close is the deal to being done? Can India fans based in England start booking their tickets now?

"I’m nervous." Stephenson admits. "We’re in daily contact with his agent. Every phone call I get I think ‘is this the one’? Hopefuly by the end of this week we’ll know."

Glove rival? Could Dhoni be the next to come to Lord's? If the worst happens and the deal cannot be completed Stephenson already has his sights set on other sky-high targets:

"[If it doesn't happen] we’ll have to look elsewhere. We’re determined to get someone else. [Gilchrist and Tendulkar] are as big as you can get. I’d like Dhoni or Sehwag."

Exciting times indeed.