The ECB, MCC, Middlesex and Derbyshire County Cricket Club today paid a joint tribute to Donald Carr who died this weekend, on Saturday 11 June, at the age of 89.
Whilst England play Sri Lanka at Lord’s today, The MCC flag, over the Main Ground, and the Cross Arrows flag, over the Nursery Ground, will be at half-mast as a mark of respect and there will be a one-minute silence before the start of play.
A former Secretary of both the Test and County Cricket Board [TCCB] and the Cricket Council, and an Assistant Secretary (Cricket) of MCC, Donald was one of cricket’s most prominent and distinguished administrators, giving more than two decades of service to MCC and the TCCB, managing several MCC tours and later in his career serving as an ICC match referee.
He also enjoyed a highly successful playing career, representing England in two Test Matches, including one as captain, and scoring nearly 20,000 First-Class runs from 1945 to 1968. Donald captained Derbyshire between 1955 and 1962 and also served as the county’s Secretary. He was named a Wisden Cricketer of the Year in 1960 and was England’s oldest former England captain.
A talented all-round sportsman, Donald won his Blue for cricket and football at Oxford University. He was also a member of the Pegasus amateur football team, which twice won the FA Amateur Cup in the early 1950s.
Chris Grant, Chairman of Derbyshire County Cricket Club, said: “Donald Carr was a Club legend making his debut back in 1946. He was one of the finest players in Derbyshire’s history, and the only player from the county to captain England.
“Whilst still playing, he also served As Derbyshire’s Secretary before moving on to MCC and Test and Cricket County Board in 1962. Donald was a regular visitor to the Past Player’s annual reunion and maintained regular contact with former players and associates at Derbyshire.
“He will be sadly missed by the cricketing family here in Derbyshire. Our thoughts are with Donald’s family and friends.”
ECB Chairman Colin Graves added: “Cricket has lost one of its greatest friends; someone who gave a lifetime of service to our game; as a cricketer, a captain, a club secretary, an England tour manager, and, of course, as a senior administrator.
“He served MCC and the TCCB with distinction showing leadership as the game moved into the modern, professional era, always meeting the many difficult challenges he faced during this period with his customary good humour and charm.
“This is deeply sad news for Donald’s many cricketing friends, former colleagues and team-mates across the domestic and international game. He will be hugely missed by those who worked and played with him and we send our condolences and sympathies to all in the Carr family.”
The President of MCC, Roger Knight, said: “Donald’s career in cricket, especially at Lord’s, is unlikely ever to be surpassed. As a cricketer, he captained both his university and his county, and after turning to administration became Assistant Secretary (Cricket) of MCC, and Secretary of the Cricket Council and of TCCB from their formation in 1974. His period of office included the supervision of the first three World Cups in England, the advent of one-day cricket and the introduction of sponsorship in the professional game.
“Donald’s commitment to cricket, his skills – both on the field and in the committee room – spanned more than 40 years, from his first-class debut in 1945, for England against Australia in the Victory “Test” at Lord’s, to his retirement in 1986. He also served on MCC committees, on the Middlesex committee and as captain of Cross Arrows Cricket Club. He will be deeply and sorely missed across the cricket world.
“The MCC flag, over the Main Ground, and the Cross Arrows flag, over the Nursery Ground, have been lowered to half-mast as a mark of respect to a man who devoted so much of his life to the game.”
DONALD BRYCE CARR: BIOGRAPHY
Born December 28, 1926, Wiesbaden, Germany
Education: Repton School, Oxford University
Cricket career:
Oxford University: 1949-1951
Derbyshire 1946-1963 – First-Class runs: 19,527, First-Class Wickets: 328. Club captain from 1955-62.
England: Two Test Matches v India 1951-52 (captained England in Madras Test)
MCC – Assistant Secretary (Cricket) 1962-1974
TCCB and the Cricket Council – Secretary – 1974-1986
ICC – Match Referee – 1991-94
