Cricket: MCC beckons for job-seeker Snedden

Martin Snedden. Photo / Mark Mitchell

If Martin Snedden ever needs to update his CV he has a pretty significant entry he can now add, and it might help him secure the vacant MCC chief executive's position.

The Rugby World Cup boss will be unemployed at the end of the year - he's in the throes of wrapping up his duties following the highly successful staging of the tournament in New Zealand - but it's unlikely he will be idle for long.

Snedden declined to comment on the possibility of linking up with the Marylebone Cricket Club but he has talked recently about heading overseas to work.

He's ruled out applying for the vacant New Zealand Cricket chief executive's position, a job he held prior to taking up his role with the World Cup in 2007, but expressed some interest in heading up New Zealand's hosting of the 2015 Cricket World Cup.

There would be few more qualified candidates to become MCC boss than Snedden. Not only did he play international cricket for New Zealand, but he was also New Zealand Cricket chief executive and gained huge experience and recognition for the work he did in organising the World Cup.

Britain's Daily Telegraph reported the 52-year-old was expected to be on the MCC shortlist of about six or seven candidates. There were initially more than 200 applications; interviews are expected at the end of the month, with the successful candidate likely to start before the next English cricket season.

The MCC are on the lookout for a replacement for Keith Bradshaw, who left his position as chief executive at the end of October, and the club have identified a playing background in professional cricket as a key requirement.

The Telegraph reported Snedden was on the shortlist with Steve Elworthy, the former South African bowler and current England and Wales Cricket Board marketing and communications manager, and Dave Richardson, the former South African cricketer and International Cricket Council (ICC) general manager.

Former Warwickshire batsman Wasim Khan, who has worked as chief executive of educational organisation Chance to Shine, is also thought to be a candidate as is John Stephenson, the MCC's head of cricket.

Snedden's reluctance to comment could be interpreted as interest. He is a straight-up individual and would have ruled it out if he wasn't keen on the job.

The MCC was founded in 1787 and is based at Lord's, widely regarded as the home of cricket. Once the world's most powerful cricketing body its influence has declined over time, especially after the ICC took over the running of the global game in 1993.

The MCC is still a prestigious organisation and has 23,000 members.