James Harris: Middlesex all-rounder to succeed Daryl Mitchell as PCA chairman

James Harris has been at Middlesex since 2013

(Getty Images)

Middlesex all-rounder James Harris will succeed Daryl Mitchell as chairman of the Professional Cricketers’ Association (PCA).

Harris saw off competition from two other candidates to become the 15th PCA chairman since the organisation’s creation, to represent the interests of English cricketers, in 1967.

After making his debut in 2007, Welshman Harris has enjoyed a long county career with Glamorgan and, since 2013, Middlesex. He has 494 first-class wickets, including a best of nine for 34 in 2015, and was long touted as an international prospect, representing England Lions.

The 30-year-old has been an active figure in the players’ union in recent years. Since last June, Harris has been one of the PCA’s two vice-chairs, along with England Women captain Heather Knight, and has been on the organisation’s Players Committee since 2017, as well as being Middlesex’s PCA representative.

Worcestershire’s Mitchell, 37, succeeded Glamorgan’s Mark Wallace in 2017 and has been in the role for the maximum two two-year terms. He has been an impressive leader for the PCA during a turbulent time for the professional game, with the announcement of the Hundred and the initial impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Both of those issues – along with the growing professionalism of the women’s game – will be high on Harris’s priority list when he takes over in the coming months. He will have support from Mitchell, who will remain involved with the organisation.