Steve Elworthy named as new leader government at Surrey

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Takes over from Richard Gould in signal of thawing members of the family between ECB and Surrey

Steve Elworthy, the ECB director of occasions who used to be extensively credited for salvaging England’s 2020 house season all the way through the Covid-19 outbreak, has been appointed as the brand new leader government at Surrey.

Elworthy, the previous South Africa seamer who performed in 4 Assessments and 39 ODIs, together with the 1999 Global Cup, will take over from Surrey’s period in-between CEO, Charlie Hodgson, in January, following the departure previous this yr of Richard Gould, who has since taken on an identical function at Bristol Town FC.

“I’ve been extremely fortunate to have labored intently with Surrey CCC over time, particularly when web hosting main international cricket tournaments,” Elworthy stated. “Surrey is the largest membership within the nation and to be presented the chance to paintings with Richard Thompson and the Board, the Surrey workforce and gamers is a large honour.

“Having performed at The Oval when representing South Africa within the 1999 Cricket Global Cup, I’m having a look ahead to getting again to cricket and dealing with the ladies’s and males’s groups. Cricket, off and on the sector, has been a part of my lifestyles since I will be mindful, and its values and comradery have assisted in shaping my force to stay this superb recreation wholesome and colourful – I’m in point of fact interested by the alternatives forward.”

The transfer is an eyecatching one, for the reason that Elworthy’s most up-to-date function on the ECB used to be to supervise the general preparations for this yr’s inaugural season of the Hundred – a event which Surrey’s earlier regime had strongly antagonistic, no longer least given the good fortune that the Kia Oval has loved in staging common T20 Blast sell-outs in recent times.

Alternatively, the inaugural season of the Hundred proved a certified good fortune, specifically because of the heightened profile of the ladies’s pageant, which used to be introduced at The Oval with a stand-alone fixture between Oval Invincibles and Manchester Originals. The Invincibles went on to boost the ladies’s trophy within the ultimate at Lord’s, and Elworthy’s appointment is also noticed as an try to forge nearer ties between the ECB and English cricket’s richest membership.

Elworthy’s CV comprises his function as Managing Director of the 2019 Global Cup – a event received via England – whilst he has prior to now overseen seven ICC Global Occasions throughout two international locations, together with the 2009 Global T20 in England. He served 3 years because the ECB Director of Advertising and Communications, and could also be a former Business Director for Cricket South Africa. In 2018 he used to be awarded an MBE for his products and services to cricket, but in addition holds different non-executive posts in sports activities reminiscent of netball, basketball and biking.

Thompson, Surrey’s chair, added: “I’m completely overjoyed to welcome Steve Elworthy to the Surrey circle of relatives. His popularity and achievements in cricket move sooner than him and I haven’t any doubt of the sure affect and distinction he’ll make for Surrey County Cricket Membership and The Kia Oval.

“The Membership has most effective had two Leader Executives previously 25 years and continuity has been an enormous a part of our good fortune. This yr we’ve produced extra England gamers than we’ve for a era, attracted a file collection of Contributors, opened the implausible new Galadari Stand and persisted to increase a lodge adjoining to the bottom.

“Surrey CCC is in nice form and stays very bold for long run good fortune – off and on the sector. I haven’t any doubt Steve is easily very supplied to lend a hand the membership fulfil its complete attainable.”

Hodgson, whose primary precedence in his period in-between function has been to persuade Surrey in the course of the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic, is known to be upset at lacking out at the full-time place. Alternatively, the membership are willing to retain his industrial acumen, with Thompson praising his efforts in balancing the books in remarkable instances.

“I’d additionally love to play tribute to our Meantime Leader Govt, Charlie Hodgson,” Thompson stated. “He has performed an impressive activity over one of the crucial difficult seasons I will ever be mindful. The membership owes a debt to Charlie’s dedication and difficult paintings for the membership I do know he loves dearly.”

George Dobell is a senior correspondent at ESPNcricinfo

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