According to Ed Smith, the newly appointed president of the Marylebone Cricket Club, Lord’s which describes itself as the “Home of Cricket” has an unparalleled capability to influence the direction of the game to come. Although the presidency of MCC has been historically been seen as a ceremonial role, Smith sees it as an opportunity to use the brand heft of Lord’s to grow participation and inclusion in English cricket.
The Changing Face of Lord’s: From Tradition to Transformation
For many years, Lord’s has embodied cricket’s history, elitism, and tradition, but now, under the stewardship of Smith, the 238-year-old institution is accepting modernisation. The decade was punctuated, or will be punctuated in 2026, by two significant developments:
The Hundred Equity Sale MCC’s co-owned franchise, London Spirit, recently achieved a £295m valuation. This record-breaking figure encapsulates Lord’s place at the heart of English cricket’s commercial future.
The Knight-Stokes Cup, the pioneering state-schools cricket competition for schools, with over 1,000 teams participating from 750 schools, will stage its finals at Lord’s. Such an initiative is expected to bridge the divide between cricket’s elite venues and grass-roots players.
“The Brand Power of Lord’s Should Be Used for Good”
Though Smith seems loath even to use the word “brand,” he concedes the magnetic appeal of Lord’s Cricket Ground.
“There is a brand power to Lord’s, and I would love for it to be used for good to widen access to cricket,” he says.
As president, Smith wants to do more than play host to dignitaries and investors. He hopes to use Lord’s iconic status to spur participation, innovation, and equity in the sport.
Engaging the tech titans propelling London Spirit
A large part of Smith’s new challenge lies in cultivating MCC’s growing relationship with the tech entrepreneurs who invested £145 million for a 49% share in London Spirit. These “Tech Titans,” as Smith calls them, bring not just money but also innovation and a digital mindset that can help modernise cricket’s reach.
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“It’s an exciting partnership,” Smith says. “Watching cricket at Lord’s with interesting people is part of the role, but it’s about more than that it’s about fast-tracking innovations and using that creative energy to grow the game.”
The Knight-Stokes Cup: Building Cricket from the Ground Up
But at the heart of Smith’s presidency is a passion for grassroots development. The Knight-Stokes Cup, which debuts in 2026, embodies his commitment to giving state-school students the opportunity to play on the same hallowed turf as their heroes.
Smith’s personal connection runs deep: both his grandparents were teachers, and his grandfather famously maintained a cricket square himself to foster community spirit through sport.
“Sport brings people together,” Smith says. “In an era of smartphone addiction and digital distraction, it is more necessary than ever that we restate the case for sport in education.”
Bridging the Gap Between Tradition and Equity
While the Knight-Stokes Cup has been championed as an MCC initiative, its origins go back to a recommendation from the Independent Commission for Equity in Cricket. The 2023 report called out cricket’s “sexism, classism and elitism,” pressing institutions like MCC to take tangible steps toward inclusivity.
Smith acknowledges MCC still has work to do but insists the club is serious about change. The initiative builds on earlier efforts such as Chance to Shine, the 2005 charity co-founded by MCC chair Mark Nicholas and Smith’s predecessor Lord King of Lothbury, which has introduced cricket to millions of primary school children.
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“Lord’s Can Inspire a New Generation of Cricketers”
He recalls a visit to the MCC Foundation’s national hubs final at Lord’s, for example, where 164 regional teams competed. To see young players and their families leave the ground smiling is a reinforcement of the emotional power of Lord’s. “Whether you’re a player or a parent, that experience stays with you,” he says. “Your love for cricket grows deeper after a day like that. That’s what Lord’s can do.”
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