Cowdrey Lecture 2026

RISHI SUNAK TO DELIVER THE 2026 MCC COWDREY LECTURE

One of the most prominent figures in British public life, the former Prime Minister has long been a passionate supporter of cricket. A regular spectator at Lord’s and across the international game, he has frequently spoken about cricket’s unique place within British culture and its role in bringing communities together. Throughout his time in public office he has been an advocate for the game, championing initiatives to widen participation and support grassroots cricket across the country.

The event will take place in the Nursery Pavilion at Lord’s on Thursday 17 September, with MCC Members and guests invited to attend through a ballot process.

Following the keynote address, MCC Chair Mark Nicholas will be joined by guest panellists Mo Bobat and Andy Flower. Both have immense experience of the elite game and now hold key roles with the new MCC and Tech Titans-owned London Spirit management team. They will offer their perspectives on the modern game, the evolving cricket landscape and the opportunities that lie ahead for the sport.

The evening will conclude with a final guest, former England Captain Clare Connor. Since retiring from international cricket, Connor has been one of the most influential figures in the development of the women’s game. During an 18-year career at the ECB, she oversaw the transformation of women’s and girls’ cricket in England and Wales, helping to drive growth at both professional and recreational levels and shaping a new era for the sport.

The event will also be streamed live on our YouTube channel.

Previous lecturers

The 2025 MCC Cowdrey lecture, featuring stars of BBC Test Match Special commentary team, took place last year on Thursday 3 April. You can watch again on the Lord’s YouTube channel via the link below.

You can also view previous MCC Cowdrey Lectures delivered by cricketing enthusiasts and legends such as Sir Andrew Strauss (2023), Stephen Fry (2021) and Mike Brearley (2019) – see below for the full list.

History

The event is named after Lord Colin Cowdrey, the former England captain who is credited with initiating the ‘Spirit of Cricket’ – an outline for fair play that was later officially added as a preamble to the Laws of Cricket.

Lord Cowdrey passed away in December 2000 and in his memory, the Cowdrey Lecture was born. The first lecture took place in 2001 and was delivered by the former Australian captain Richie Benaud.

The speakers have customarily been distinguished former cricketers or cricketing personalities, other than when Desmond Tutu delivered the Lecture in 2008. Kumar Sangakkara, in 2011, is the only player who was still active in their playing career at the time of giving the Lecture.

Previous Speakers

The full list of previous speakers are as follows: