Kent Cricket have announced that former Kent and England all-rounder Richard Ellison, who made over 300 appearances for the county across two decades and earned 25 caps for England, will be the Club’s President for 2026.

Willesborough-born Ellison will succeed Vice-Admiral Sir Tim Laurence as President at the end of this calendar year.

He scored over 6,000 runs and took more than 570 wickets in his county career, before retiring in 1994 and using his teaching qualifications to become Head of Cricket at Millfield School, where he nurtured the careers of future Kent star Daniel Bell-Drummond and other first-class players such as Somerset’s Archie Vaughan & Craig Kieswetter.

A huge supporter of developing aspiring young cricketers, Ellison will use his tenure as President to champion Kent Cricket’s Regional Development Programme (KCRDP).

On being appointed as President for 2026, Ellison said: “It’s a huge honour to be President of our great Club and I am excited to be involved with my home county once more.

“We have a long history of producing great male and female cricketers, many of whom have reached the International stage, and I am passionate about helping to nurture the next generation of Kent cricketers during my Presidency next year.”

Kent Cricket Chair, Jamie Clifford, said: “Elly was a hugely popular figure during his playing days for Kent and England, and I’ve no doubt his appointment as President for 2026 will be warmly welcomed by Members and supporters alike.

“His passion for developing the game at grassroots level in Kent provides a strong focus for 2026. We’ve laid important foundations this winter by reshaping the men’s and women’s KCRDP, and with his guiding hand, we will continue to build predominantly homegrown Kent teams – that can compete with pride and ambition for honours in a Kent shirt.”