MCC denies talk of 'revolt' over Heyhoe Flint statue plan
Heyhoe Flint was the driving force behind the inaugural women's World Cup in 1973.
LONDON (AFP) - Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) said on Thursday plans to install a permanent memorial to women s cricket great Rachael Heyhoe Flint at its Lord s headquarters have not sparked a reported membership "revolt".
Clare Connor, who in October will become the first female president in MCC s 234-year history, told an online forum on Tuesday she wanted the club to commemorate Heyhoe Flint by erecting a statue or naming one of the gates at its Lord s to acknowledge her fellow former England women s captain.
Heyhoe Flint was the driving force behind the inaugural women s World Cup in 1973, leading England to the title two years before the equivalent men s tournament was first played.
She was also instrumental in MCC s decision to admit women members for the first time in 1998.
But newspaper The Times, in a piece headlined "Lord s revolt over Rachael Heyhoe Flint, the queen of cricket" quoted the views of two members opposed to the plans.
Mark Peel, a cricket author said the move was "misguided" and smacked of "gesture politics", while lawyer Robert Griffiths added: "Diversity is one thing but a statue or gate has to be named on merit."
Connor, however, said the pair s opinions were not representative of the club s 18,500-strong membership.
While the Grace Gates at the main entrance to Lord s honour 19th Century cricket pioneer and England great WG Grace, no female cricketer is similary honoured at the Home of Cricket .
MCC chief executive Guy Lavender, in a statement issued Thursday, said the club were considering further ways to commemorate Heyhoe Flint s "considerable achievements" in addition to the portrait currently on display in the pavilion.
He added suggestions this had sparked a revolt were "highly misleading".
Heyhoe Flint died in 2017 at the age of 77.
