Barclay named next MCC president

Barclay scored over 9000 runs in 274 first-class games

Former Sussex captain John Barclay has been named as the next president of the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC).

Barclay will succeed current president Derek Underwood on 1 October and hold the position for 12 months.

"He has the same boyish love and enthusiasm for the game now as he did when he made his first-class debut aged 16," said Underwood.

Barclay played for Sussex from 1970 to 1986 and led them to second place in the County Championship in 1981.

He scored more than 12,000 runs in all competitions during his playing career and later managed the England team on two overseas tours.

Barclay has served on a number of MCC committees and is chairman of Sussex's cricket committee and the Sussex Cricket Board and president of the England Schools Cricket Association.

"Johnny Barclay is a hugely popular and highly respected figure throughout the world of cricket.

"In Sussex, we are very lucky to have his input in the county at all levels - from youngsters to the professional cricket team," said Sussex chairman Jim May.

Barclay has also turned his hand to writing and his book 'Life Beyond the Airing Cupboard' was recently named book of the year by the MCC and Cricket Society.