EAST Lancashire’s former England international Arran Brindle admitted she was delighted and honoured to be awarded an honorary life membership by Marylebone Cricket Club.

West Craven’s Brindle, who briefly played cricket for Barrowford in the Craven League, was given the honour of life membership at the MCC, based at Lord’s, yesterday.

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And the 33-year-old, who retired from international cricket last year, admitted she was proud to be given the achievement.

The former Lancashire star, who played 11 Tests, 88 one-day internationals and 35 Twenty20s for her country, said: “I’m delighted to have been given this accolade and am very proud to be a member of such a prestigious club as MCC.

“There are some huge names from women’s cricket who are also honorary life members and I’m honoured to take my place alongside them.”

Brindle made her debut for the Red Rose in 1998 and was named captain in 2002, playing a key role in the 2003 promotion campaign as Lancashire reached the top-flight.

She also became the first woman in England to notch a century in a men’s Premier League cricket match when playing for Louth in Lincolnshire.

Brindle, who represented MCC women against a Rest of the World XI in the inaugural Lord’s bicentenary match last year, joins a list of honorary members including some of cricket’s most famous names.

Sir Ian Botham, Sachin Tendulkar, Wasim Akram and Adam Gilchrist are among the names that Brindle will now join.

And her former England team-mate Clare Connor, who is now Head of England Women’s Cricket at the ECB, added her congratulations to Brindle, who also fitted in time to start a family during her illustrious career.

Connor said: “Arran has been a remarkable servant to the England women’s cricket team and the county game, representing both Lancashire and Sussex.

“She was instrumental in the victorious 2005 Ashes summer, hitting her maiden Test century to save the first Test. She then left the game to start a family but came back even stronger to play for England from 2011-2014.

“She was a key member of the back-to-back Ashes winning team during 2013-2014 which capped off an impressive career.

“Arran was a true professional well before this new fully professional era started for England women’s cricket and she thoroughly deserves this honour bestowed upon her by MCC.”

Brindle was joined on the list by former Australia international Belinda Clark and MCC head of cricket John Stephenson added: “It’s a great pleasure to announce this news, and both women are extremely deserving of their Honorary Life Membership of MCC.

“Women’s cricket is going from strength to strength which is due in no small part to the contributions of players like Arran and Belinda, so we’re very happy to give them this recognition.”

Brindle made her Test debut for England in 2001 and was an Ashes winner on three occasions.

She scored her maiden one day international century – an unbeaten 107 – against South Africa at Potchefstroom in October 2011.

Brindle now combines her job as a teacher with playing cricket in the Lincolnshire Men’s Premier League for Louth.