Queen’s Birthday 2020 Honours List
Cricket Australia congratulates everyone that has been recognised in the Queen’s Birthday 2020 Honours List, especially those from within the cricketing community.
Michael Clarke was named an Officer in the General Division of the Order of Australia (AO) “for distinguished service to cricket as a player at the national and international level, through leadership roles, and to the community.”
Clarke represented Australia in 115 Tests for Australia and captained Australia in 47 of those tests, making him the sixth most capped skipper in Australian cricketing history. He is Australia’s fourth highest Test run-scorer and at his peak Clarke was ranked the best Test batsman in the world.
Clarke famously led Australia to a 5-0 series whitewash over England in the 2013-14 summer to regain the Ashes and also captained Australia to the 2015 World Cup title. He is part of a very small cricketing club, with Wally Hammond and Don Bradman, as the only men to score a triple-century and a double-hundred in the same series. Clarke also won the Allan Border Medal four times.
Lynette Larsen was named a Member in the General Division of the Order of Australia (AM) “for significant service to cricket as a player, selector, manager and coach at the elite level.”
Larsen played 64 matches for Australia from 1984-1992, averaged 41 in Test Cricket and captained Australia 53 times across Tests and One Day Internationals, which included winning the Women's Cricket World Cup in 1988. She has also made a significant contribution to the game and the community as an administrator at all levels from grass roots to international.
Larsen was instrumental at the international level with the International Women’s Cricket Council, and was a key driver of the integration of the IWCC with the (men’s) International Cricket Council, which has been a catalyst for huge growth in the women’s game, as integration was at State and national level in Australia.
Cricket Australia also congratulates the Hon. Alan Ferguson and Dr Douglass Lording for being named a Member in the General Division of the Order of Australia (AM)) of the Queen's Birthday 2020 Honours List.
In addition to Clarke, Larsen, The Hon. Alan Ferguson, Rosen and Lording, 10 prominent members of the cricket community received the Medal of the Order of Australia in the General Division (OAM).
Mervyn Bailey, Kevan Carroll, Gerard Price, and Gary Somerville received an OAM ‘for service to cricket.”
John Coutis, Colin Anderson, Brian Hassett, Bruce Meyer, Edna Pennicott and Rex Wilson all received OAMs recognising their service to the communities of Ballarat, West Wimmera, Kingborough, Tasmania, across sport, medicine, local government and education which also included their work in the cricket community.
Kevin Roberts, Cricket Australia CEO said:
“On behalf of the Australian Cricket family, I congratulate these outstanding women and men who have served Australian cricket from the highest levels through to dedicating their time to developing the game at the grassroots level.
“This list recognises a group of outstanding Australians who have made a significant contribution to their community in varied roles across playing, coaching, medicine, music, education, local government and volunteering.
“These individuals are the lifeblood of the community they live and work in and we are delighted to see that they are to be recognised for their great service to the game. Cricket is a richer game because of them. I wish to extended my sincere congratulations to everyone honoured in the Queen's Birthday 2020 Honours List."
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Australia’s World Cup-winning former captain Michael Clarke was on Monday appointed an officer in the Order of Australia, joining iconic ex-skippers like Allan Border and Steve Waugh who have received the national recognition.
Clarke, who led Australia to the 2015 World Cup title, has been appointed an officer (AO) in the general division of the Order of Australia, an honour for achievement or meritorious service.
Reacting to the news, Clarke told Channel 9: “To be honest, I thought it was an April fool’s prank in June. Very surprised but in the same breath very honoured.” The other Australian captains who have received an AO include Ricky Ponting, Mark Taylor, Steve Waugh, Allan Border and Bob Simpson.
Clarke has been honoured for “distinguished service to cricket as a player at the national and international level, through leadership roles, and to the community”.
The 39-year-old retired following the World Cup triumph in 2015.
He played 115 Tests, 245 ODIs and 34 T20s, scoring 8643, 7981 and 488 runs respectively.
When asked how cricket will emerge out of the COVID-19 crisis, Clarke sounded upbeat. “I believe cricket is big part of this country’s culture, like all sports but cricket is the most dominant in our country. It is in our blood and even if you don’t sit and watch it, the sound of cricket represents summer,” he said.
“We are in great hands when it comes talent in this country. I love the players coming out and saying that if ‘we have to take a pay cut because of where the games sit, we are happy to do that’. That shows their character.” Clarke said the game in Australia will be back on track irrespective of the fate of T20 World Cup which is in serious doubt due to the pandemic.
“I am really confident no matter what happens with COVID, whether we get this World Cup in October or start the summer in November, sport will find a way to survive and find a way to be successful.”
Cricket Australia, facing losses to the tune of 300 million Australian dollars, is banking heavily on hosting the India Test series later this year to get back on its feet financially.
https://www.hindustantimes.com/cric...rthday-list/story-C1GUwI2Iy1Ngp9Rt8qfxJN.html
