MCC APPOINTS JESSICA HOMER AS

 YOUNG CRICKET PHOTOGRAPHER 2007

Jessica Homer (28), from County Down, will be MCC's Young Cricket Photographer 2007.

Jessica was the unanimous choice of a selection panel which included the top cricket photographer Graham Morris, who will act as Jessica's professional mentor after his return from the Cricket World Cup.

During her summer with MCC, Jessica will photograph a wide range of fixtures at 'the home of cricket' including npower Test matches, NatWest one-day internationals and the season's traditional 'curtain-raiser' - MCC v Champion County which begins tomorrow (Friday 13th April).

Jessica will also cover a range of other Club matches -  such as fixtures involving the MCC Young Cricketers, the MCC Universities and the Club's women's players.

Commenting on her appointment, Jessica said:

 "This is a unique scholarship; I'm delighted to have won it. It's a great honour and a tremendous opportunity to take my sports photography to the next level. I can't wait to start working at Lord's and learning from Graham."

MCC's Secretary & Chief Executive, Keith Bradshaw, said:

"This scholarship attracts a bigger and better field of candidates every year - so it's a very hard one to win. But our panel was unanimous in selecting Jessica as MCC's Young Cricket Photographer 2007.

Her portfolio was outstanding, and her potential is obvious. I would like to congratulate Jessica on her appointment. With Graham's guidance over the coming season, I'm sure her career will go from strength to strength."

Jessica is a freelance photographer whose work has appeared in a variety of regional daily newspapers including the 'Gloucestershire Echo', when she worked in the West Country, as well as in publications in Northern Ireland, including the 'Belfast Telegraph', where she now lives with her husband.

Originally from  Solihull, in the West Midlands, Jessica won the title 'Young Photographer of the Year' in 2001's Banks's Midlands Press Photographer of the Year awards.

MCC's Young Cricket Photographer scholarship - now in its fifth year - is one of several MCC initiatives to foster young cricket-related talent. Others include the MCC Young Cricketers scheme, which has helped to develop international players including Paul Nixon (England), Kevin O'Brien (Ireland) and Ross Taylor (New Zealand).