Roger Knight has been rewarded for 13 years of service at the MCC © Getty Images

Roger Knight, the former secretary and chief executive of the MCC, has been awarded honorary life membership of the club.

It is the second major honour inside two weeks for Knight, who retired from his post in August 2006 after 13 years, following the award of an OBE at the start of the year for services to sport.

Commenting on Knight's inclusion in the New Year Honours List, MCC's Chairman, Charles Fry, said: "Roger thoroughly deserves this award, for his decades of service to cricket - as a player, a captain and, for thirteen years, an outstanding Secretary & Chief Executive of MCC."

During Knight's 13 years at the helm he transformed the facilities at Lord's, launched the MCC's Spirit of Cricket initiative, and oversaw the admission of women members.

Since his retirement he has continued to serve as Chairman of the European Cricket Council - which, like MCC, is based at Lord's.