Harris elected PCA Chair

Middlesex’s James Harris has been elected by the PCA Players’ Committee as the new Chair of the Association, replacing Daryl Mitchell who will step down at the PCA Annual General Meeting on 25 February after completing his four-year term.

Harris assumes the role following an independent election process, where each of the 18 first-class counties and the England Women’s squad voted.

Harris is the 15^th PCA Chair and the first to come from Middlesex. He replaces Mitchell, who has completed his four years in the role after replacing Mark Wallace in 2017. In accordance with the PCA constitution, each Chair may complete a maximum of two, two-year terms.

Harris, 30, has been with Middlesex since 2013, when he moved to Lord’s from his native Glamorgan, the county where he began his professional career in 2007. The Welshman has had loan spells both back at Glamorgan in 2014 and with Kent in 2017.

With 270 professional appearances, an impressive 630 wickets and 4,443 runs, he brings considerable experience and understanding of player issues to the role.

Harris has a good working knowledge of the PCA, having been Middlesex’s Players’ Committee representative since 2017. In the last 12 months he has also served as Vice Chair of the PCA under Mitchell alongside England Women skipper Heather Knight.

Incoming PCA Chair, Harris, said: “It’s a great honour to become the 15th Chair of the PCA and I am both humbled and grateful for the support I have received from the Players’ Committee. Daryl Mitchell has done a fantastic job and I’d like to thank him on behalf of the players for everything that he has achieved as PCA Chair.

“I’m looking forward to getting stuck into the role tackling the current challenges the game is facing while ensuring that the PCA remains a leading player association for the benefit of all our members, past and present.”

PCA Non-Executive Chairman, Julian Metherell, said: “I am delighted that our members have elected James to succeed Daryl as Chair of the PCA. James has a deep knowledge of the game which led to his appointment to the PCA Board as Vice Chair last year.

“I would also like to record my thanks to Daryl for his outstanding leadership of the PCA. He has played a pivotal role in many of the issues the PCA has addressed over the last four years, not least the negotiation of the County Partnership Agreement, The Hundred and the discussions with the ECB and the First Class Counties during the pandemic.”

PCA Chief Executive, Rob Lynch, said: “We are thrilled that James has been voted in as the new PCA Chair by his fellow representatives on the PCA Players’ Committee.

“James’ CV speaks for itself, both in terms of his on-field experience and the work he has put in off the pitch to help the game thrive. He is widely respected amongst his colleagues and is very aware from his time as our Vice Chair of the strategic objectives, goals and vision we have set out for the future in the PCA.

“I am looking forward to working even closer with James at a crucial time for players as we support our members through to the end of this pandemic and start to look towards a brighter future.

“I would also like to place on record my thanks to outgoing Chair Daryl Mitchell as he completes his four years in the role. Daryl’s contribution to the Association over the past four years has been nothing short of phenomenal, and he has proved to be a leading voice on key player issues within the game during his tenure as Chair of the PCA.”