MCC — Marylebone Cricket Club Explained
What is the MCC? Understand the Marylebone Cricket Club's unique role as cricket's guardians of the Laws, owners of Lord's, and their global influence.
What Is the MCC?
The Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) is a private cricket club based at Lord's Cricket Ground in London. Founded in 1787, the MCC is the custodian of the Laws of Cricket — the official rules that govern the game globally. While the ICC governs international cricket administration, it is the MCC that writes, revises, and publishes the Laws of Cricket.
Ownership of Lord's
The MCC owns and manages Lord's Cricket Ground — widely considered the 'Home of Cricket.' Lord's hosts England Test matches, county cricket, the ICC World Cup Finals, and various international events. The MCC's Long Room, Pavilion, and museum are among cricket's most iconic facilities, housing centuries of cricket art, memorabilia, and history.
The Laws of Cricket
The Laws of Cricket are published by the MCC and updated periodically to reflect the evolving game. The current Laws (2017 Code, revised 2019) cover all aspects of play, covering definitions of equipment, scoring, dismissals, player conduct, and match conditions. All cricket globally — from backyard games to Test matches — technically operates under the Laws maintained by the MCC.
MCC Membership and Waiting Lists
MCC membership is highly sought-after — the waiting list for full membership has historically stretched to 10–30 years. Members receive access to the Pavilion at Lord's, the Long Room during matches, and priority ticket access to major international fixtures. The MCC has over 20,000 members and several thousand on the waiting list.
Frequently asked questions
Does the MCC still govern cricket worldwide?
The MCC retains custodianship of the Laws of Cricket, but the ICC governs international cricket administration, player regulations, and tournament management. The MCC's governance role is specifically around the Laws themselves, not the sport's commercial or competitive operation.
Who can join the MCC?
MCC membership is open to any person aged 16 or over who applies and joins the waiting list. Members are elected by current MCC members. Women were admitted as full members for the first time in 1998 — until then, membership was exclusively male.
How old is the MCC?
The MCC was founded in 1787 — making it one of the world's oldest and most historic sporting clubs, predating most major national cricket boards by many decades.