The curators of the MCC Museum’s Cricket and the Jewish Community exhibition are joined by former Wisden editor Matthew Engel, World Cup 2000 player Lara Molins Caplin, and Miranda Rijks, author and biographer of her grandfather, cricket philanthropist Sir Julien Cahn.

As players, MCC Presidents, umpires, statisticians and patrons, Jews have contributed at all levels of cricket. From the UK to Australia, South Africa and the West Indies, they’ve captained their countries and counties, helped to develop the commercial side of the game and even baked cakes for Test Match Special.

Daniel Lightman KC and Zaki Cooper, curators of the Cricket and the Jewish Community exhibition at Lord’s and authors of Cricket Grounds from the Air are joined here by Lara Molins Caplin, who played seven one-day internationals for Ireland, author and journalist Matthew Engel, who edited 12 editions of cricket bible Wisden between 1993 and 2007, and Miranda Rijks, psychological thriller author and biographer (The Eccentric Entrepreneur) of her grandfather, the cricket philanthropist Sir Julien Cahn.

This event will last approximately 1 hour, without an interval. 

About the speakers:

Daniel Lightman is a King’s Counsel, practising from Serle Court Chambers, Lincoln’s Inn.

Lara Molins Caplin is an Irish cricketer who played at One Day International (ODI) level for the Irish national side between 1999 and 2001, including at the 2000 World Cup. She is part of the Molins cricketing dynasty in Ireland, where both her cousins Jason and Greg Molins also represented the Irish National side.

Lara has since retired to focus on her career as a PR professional and raising her children, Ella (age 12) and Ethan (age 10), both keen cricketers. Her daughter Ella plays for Hertfordshire and her son Ethan plays for South Area Hertfordshire. The legacy lives on.

Miranda Rijks is the bestselling author of 21 psychological thrillers and The Eccentric Entrepreneur, a biography of her grandfather, Sir Julien Cahn, a notable cricket benefactor who in the 1920s and 1930 ran his own first-class cricket team.

Miranda has a law degree, a masters in writing and qualifications in coaching and psychometric testing. Before becoming a full time fiction writer, she was responsible for building up and selling businesses in the leisure and horticulture sectors.

In 2015, Miranda was diagnosed with Ewing’s Sarcoma, a rare bone cancer. She now lives in Sussex with her Dutch husband and black labrador.

Matthew Engel is a journalist and author. He has written for the Guardian and Financial Times, among other publications, and was the editor of the Wisden Cricketers’ Almanack for twelve years. His books include Eleven Minutes Late and Engel’s England.

Zaki Cooper is co-founder of a communications firm Integra, having previously worked for the Chief Rabbi and in the Royal Household as well as in the corporate sector.