MCC may scrap programme that produced Sir Ian Botham to save costs
Ivo Tennant
July 5 2018, 12:01am, The Times
Botham was nurtured through the Young Cricketers programmeGLYN KIRK/AFP/GETTY IMAGES
MCC is considering terminating its long-standing Young Cricketers programme on the Lord's groundstaff, which has nurtured numerous talented players such as Ian Botham.
Guy Lavender, the MCC chief executive and secretary, is examining the club's expenditure on playing and coaching in light of its priority: financing the rebuilding of the Compton and Edrich stands, which will cost at least £50 million.
The cost of supporting young cricketers, including the salary of Steve Kirby, the MCC head coach, is £373,000 a year. Maintaining a groundstaff has been a traditional element of the club.
Botham, who arrived at Lord's aged 16, developed his skills there, as did Dawid Malan, the England batsman, Mark Waugh, the former Australia batsman, and Phil Tufnell, the former England spin bowler, among…