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No ball! Mark Carney abolishes Bank of England's annual cricket match No ball! Mark Carney abolishes Bank of England's annual cricket match
(about 3 hours later)
When Mark Carney arrived as Bank of England governor a year ago, he promised a shakeup of the 320-year-old institution – and he has delivered. When Mark Carney arrived as Bank of England governor a year ago, he promised to shake up the 320-year-old institution – and he has delivered.
Forget forward guidance, his latest revolution involves something much more important – cricket – which will no longer serve as the centrepiece of the Bank's annual summer staff party because it is deemed too exclusive. The sport was much loved by Carney's predecessor, Lord King, who played in the annual match until his retirement last year. Forget forward guidance, his latest revolution involves something much more important – cricket – which will no longer serve as the centrepiece of the Bank's annual summer staff party because it is considered too exclusive.
This Sunday, at the Bank's annual sports day held at its grounds in Roehampton, south-west London, staff will instead have the opportunity to compete in obstacle races, football and rounders, according to Bloomberg. No one at the Bank was available to comment on Friday morning. The sport was much loved by Carney's predecessor, Lord King, who played in the annual match until his retirement last year. In years past, teams captained by King featured famous cricketers, including Graeme Hick, pitched against the Bank's own first XI.
Lord King is president of Chance to Shine, which aims at getting more children involved in cricket. Under King, other sports also featured on the day, including five-a-side football and tennis. Staff and their families attending this year's event at the Bank's grounds in Roehampton, south-west London, on Sunday will also have the opportunity to participate in rounders, the three-legged race, and the wheelbarrow race.
A spokesman for the Bank said: "The governor has not banned cricket. He wanted the activities at governors' day to be chosen by staff for staff and their families. Staff chose a number of sports, such as rounders, football and tug of war, among others."
Carney, who left his job as governor of the Bank of Canada to come to the UK, was an ice hockey player in his youth, including during his time as a graduate student at Oxford University, where he met his wife Diana.
King clearly does not believe cricket is exclusive. The former governor is president of Chance to Shine, a charity aimed at getting more children involved in cricket and keeping the sport alive in state schools.
He says on the charity's website: "Playing cricket at school taught me the importance of practice and teamwork. Captaining a side on the field helped me significantly in my career in later years."He says on the charity's website: "Playing cricket at school taught me the importance of practice and teamwork. Captaining a side on the field helped me significantly in my career in later years."
King clearly does not agree with the idea that cricket is too exclusive, adding: "It is the ultimate team game that reaches across boundaries of gender, race and class, offering opportunity to all." He adds: "It is the ultimate team game that reaches across boundaries of gender, race and class, offering opportunity to all."
David Buik, a veteran City commentator who has played at the Bank's ground, said the decision to scrap the annual cricket match was "outrageous".David Buik, a veteran City commentator who has played at the Bank's ground, said the decision to scrap the annual cricket match was "outrageous".
"It is sacrilege. It is one of the most wonderful grounds you could ever wish to play on and for the game to be denied because of exclusivity is awful. Cricket is one of our national games.""It is sacrilege. It is one of the most wonderful grounds you could ever wish to play on and for the game to be denied because of exclusivity is awful. Cricket is one of our national games."