Lord Harris (George Robert Canning Harris)
presidentEngland1909-1931
Lord Harris was the founding president of the Imperial Cricket Conference in 1909. A former captain of England and Governor of Bombay, he was instrumental in establishing the governing body that would eventually become the ICC. He presided over the formative years of international cricket governance, setting the precedents that would guide the sport for decades. His aristocratic background and colonial connections were emblematic of cricket's early governance structure.
Key Achievements
- •Founded the Imperial Cricket Conference in 1909 alongside representatives from Australia and South Africa
- •Established the initial framework for international cricket governance
- •Oversaw the admission of West Indies, New Zealand, and India as members in 1926
- •Served as president for over two decades, providing stability during the early years
Controversies
- •His leadership reflected the colonial-era power structures, with governance heavily skewed toward England
- •Non-white nations had limited voice and representation under his presidency