Tendulkar given Order of Australia honour
Sachin Tendulkar will become the fourth non-Australian cricketer to receive an Order of Australia honour. The prime minister of Australia, Julia Gillard, made the announcement while visiting a cricket clinic in Delhi and she said Tendulkar, who is currently in South Africa for the Champions League Twenty20, would receive the honour from cabinet minister Simon Crean, who is due to visit India soon.
"I'm very pleased we're going to confer on Sachin Tendulkar membership of the Order of Australia, an AM," Gillard told reporters in Delhi. "This is a very special honour, very rarely awarded to someone who is not an Australian citizen or an Australian national.
"He is away playing cricket - surprise, surprise - but the award will be conferred on him by minister Crean when [he] visits India. So a very special honour and a very special recognition of such a great batsman."
No cricketer has played more matches against Australia than Tendulkar, who has played against them 106 times across Tests, ODIs and Twenty20 internationals. He has toured Australia five times for Test series, from 1991 to 2011, and only Jack Hobbs has scored more Test runs against the Australians.
Tendulkar will be the first non-Australian cricketer to be made an honorary member of the Order of Australia since Brian Lara, who was given the award in 2009. Lara was given the title "for service to Australia-Caribbean relations by promoting goodwill, friendship and sportsmanship through the sport of cricket".
In 1985, the former West Indies captain Clive Lloyd was made an honorary Officer of the Order of Australia, which ranks higher in the Australian honour system than the member of the Order of Australia, for his "outstanding and positive influence on the game in Australia".
Another West Indian, Sir Garfield Sobers, was also made a member of the Order of Australia in 2003, "for service to cricket as a player and supporter of young players, particularly from disadvantaged areas and groups, and to the community through support for charitable organisations". However, Sobers holds Australian citizenship through marriage, so his award was not considered "honorary".
Approximately 20 Australian cricketers have been given Order of Australia honours, including Sir Donald Bradman, Allan Border, Steve Waugh, Mark Waugh, Mark Taylor, Adam Gilchrist, Glenn McGrath, Matthew Hayden, Dennis Lillee, Max Walker, Bob Simpson, Keith Miller, Justin Langer, Bill Lawry, Ricky Ponting, Peter Burge, Ron Archer, Alan Davidson, Dean Jones and Belinda Clark.
Brydon Coverdale is an assistant editor at ESPNcricinfo. He tweets here
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That was a very nice gesture by Australia. Never heard of this award before, but the Indian fans aren't complaining. However, the biggest award for the great man is that he rules the hearts of 1.3 Billion Indians. Thats bigger than any award any country can bestow upon him. A section of Aussie media are jealous of Tendulkar because he is widely regarded at the best batsman ever(not Bradman), not the least of which is Matthew Hayden(the man with a chip on his shoulder). Tendulkar is a such an awsome legend, that Australia gave themselves an award, by associating themselves with the great man.
Funny to see people criticizing the last gentleman of cricket!
Actually his record in Oz is pathetic. Even out of the 2 wins, his contribution is negligible in 1. And he has figured in as many as 14 losses. Lara's case is not better, but most of his innings were against the very best Oz attack and he looked so destructive at times. Averages won't tell about a player's supremacy. And he never played for averages.
if I was a punter fan,I will just look at his poor record in India ,and shut my mouth for long. ECB might want to honour punter,for helping them win 3 ashes.
thanks for the entertainment,master blaster,none other than you deserves it more . ah punter,the less said is better .
" I don't know about cricket, but still I watch cricket to see Sachin play. Not because I love his play, it 's because I want to know the reason why my country's production goes down by 5% when he is batting " - ( Barack Obama, US President ).
Warne is a great bowler no doubt. But may be he is not given the award because of his controversial behaviour off the field many times.
Comparison to Ponting! Well, maybe Australian voters in India are far fewer compared to vice versa. Ponting has not even reached 100 defeats in ODI's whereas this guy completed 200 at Dhaka amidst absurd celebrations. I'm writing this only because Ponting is unnecessarily belittled by some jingoists.
this is purely political, trying to brighten the relationship between Australia and India.
@jonesy, Imsrk-For his terrifying masterpiece in 'Bullring'-Jo'berg in 2003 where he lorded over Indian bowling helming his 'Invincibles' alone Ponting deserves a similar Indian honour.That's not counting his counting his stunning body of achievements both as player and captain even leaving aside those against India-most of which are to remain unparalleled in history. Coming to India ,surely can't discount the tons of runs scored off Indian bowling in Tests alone including the hugely profitable venture during India's last sojourn down under.That is not even taking his prolific record against India in ODIs both as batsman as well as captain in series between the sides.Now, picking out an odd poor series that he had early in his career in India is means nothing- He not the only great player to have a bad run or series. He more than made up for it in later test series against India and no particular bowler was spared-not even considering games in Aus here (Check the records).
That was a very nice gesture by Australia. Never heard of this award before, but the Indian fans aren't complaining. However, the biggest award for the great man is that he rules the hearts of 1.3 Billion Indians. Thats bigger than any award any country can bestow upon him. A section of Aussie media are jealous of Tendulkar because he is widely regarded at the best batsman ever(not Bradman), not the least of which is Matthew Hayden(the man with a chip on his shoulder). Tendulkar is a such an awsome legend, that Australia gave themselves an award, by associating themselves with the great man.
Funny to see people criticizing the last gentleman of cricket!
Actually his record in Oz is pathetic. Even out of the 2 wins, his contribution is negligible in 1. And he has figured in as many as 14 losses. Lara's case is not better, but most of his innings were against the very best Oz attack and he looked so destructive at times. Averages won't tell about a player's supremacy. And he never played for averages.
if I was a punter fan,I will just look at his poor record in India ,and shut my mouth for long. ECB might want to honour punter,for helping them win 3 ashes.
thanks for the entertainment,master blaster,none other than you deserves it more . ah punter,the less said is better .
" I don't know about cricket, but still I watch cricket to see Sachin play. Not because I love his play, it 's because I want to know the reason why my country's production goes down by 5% when he is batting " - ( Barack Obama, US President ).
Warne is a great bowler no doubt. But may be he is not given the award because of his controversial behaviour off the field many times.
Comparison to Ponting! Well, maybe Australian voters in India are far fewer compared to vice versa. Ponting has not even reached 100 defeats in ODI's whereas this guy completed 200 at Dhaka amidst absurd celebrations. I'm writing this only because Ponting is unnecessarily belittled by some jingoists.
this is purely political, trying to brighten the relationship between Australia and India.
@jonesy, Imsrk-For his terrifying masterpiece in 'Bullring'-Jo'berg in 2003 where he lorded over Indian bowling helming his 'Invincibles' alone Ponting deserves a similar Indian honour.That's not counting his counting his stunning body of achievements both as player and captain even leaving aside those against India-most of which are to remain unparalleled in history. Coming to India ,surely can't discount the tons of runs scored off Indian bowling in Tests alone including the hugely profitable venture during India's last sojourn down under.That is not even taking his prolific record against India in ODIs both as batsman as well as captain in series between the sides.Now, picking out an odd poor series that he had early in his career in India is means nothing- He not the only great player to have a bad run or series. He more than made up for it in later test series against India and no particular bowler was spared-not even considering games in Aus here (Check the records).
@ xylo - Perhaps because Sachin averages 57.30 against the Aussies while Laxman averages 49.67! And Sachin has also obviously scored a lot more runs against them than Laxman has.
How could they even forget Shane Warne? That's unbelievable!!!
VISHO SHARMA. You mean Steve Waugh or Shane Warne or both
It is a great honor for Cricket Australia also
It is obvious from the citations that this is not an award for cricketing ability,even though SRT qualifies that way. I am not a mad SRT fan but he has certainly made cricket as a way of life look good all over the world and has influenced the young and old positively, so it is great that Australia honours him in this way. A knighthood cannot be far away.
Great decision by Cricket Australia, no one deserves it more then Sachin, not only is he the best batsman of our generation but a great example off the field.
Where is Warnie? Very odd. I love SRT to pieces - but surely Warne deserves an Order of Australia - before him (or before Hayden, Ponting, Langer and Taylor). What an odd country - refusing to recognize their greatest bowler.
Congratulations little master! Indeed a very special honor by Australia.
When VVS Laxman is overlooked for Sachin, especially by Australia, this honor reduces to a joke.
Another well deserved honour for the little master!!They loved him when as a kid he smashed 114 on a juicy pitch in 1992 and they still love him for everything that he has achieved against them and in cricket in general. People criticizing him feel that they are superior to him or Sir Don. Well.. they can suit themselves. I am just going to enjoy the show till it lasts. @ jonesy2: why should an Indian honour be conferred on Ponting? for a pathetic average of 26 with just 1 ton? no doubt he is a great player but not against India in India. If at all Lloyd should get one. But there are more deserving Indians sportsmen in the list.
The randomness of the list reminds me rather of IPL auction. You can't just explain how somebody is preferred or not.
Thanks to Australian PM for honouring Sachin.
We dont need Australia or England to certify how great the master is.
Its a good gesture from the Oz's.
Without a doubt, Sachin, The Cricketing Master deserves all the accolades.
@jonesy for what pointing shud get this kind of award . Getting out in single digict against harbhajan or breaking a TV after getting out in a WC match
SACHIN ROCKS
SACHIN SACHIN
@tmalik. Sachin had better record against mighty aussie compared to all the batsman u mentioned. I think u don't have any cricket knowledge when u said he had scored only in home conditions.
SACHIN TENDULKAR HAS PROVED ONCE AGAIN THAT "TALENT AND SHEER GENIUS RECOGNISES NO BOUNDRIES."
It looks Australia love Sachin Tendulakr, the way West Indies love Sunil Gavaskar. Two countries with great cricket tradition and their recognition ( formal or informal) has a lot of weight!
Great honour for a great batsman. Though I am a constant critic of his hanging on, far too long, there is no way any one can fprget or ignore his superlative achievements. The best, India ever produced.
@jonesy Ponting??? We Indians prefer Adam Gilchrist, Glenn Mc Grath or Steve Waugh to Ponting
One of the greatest Australian cricketer: Shane Warne's name is missing from the list
SACHIN... the best there was,the best there is and the best there will be..SACHIN the greatest ever played the game..RESPECT SIR
Australia leads the way once again. I see my England, all to eager to hand out MBE's to the likes of Paul Collingwood for an almost irrelevant performance in a fluke Ashes win in '05, yet no such english honour is bestowed on the best batsman since Sir Donald Bradman.
Even the Australian Government respects the greatest tormentor of Aussie bowling!
@ Tmalik - Do you know what Sachin's batting average is in Australia, England and other countries? Way more than the names you mentioned - and that too despite playing for so many decades. So much consistency along with longevity is what makes him great. And I never understand the match-winner argument, cricket is a TEAM sport. Not his fault if his team has crap bowlers that can't even defend 300+ runs in ODI match.
Where is Shane Warne here?
Tendulkar should get the Award on his Record alone. The BEST record by a batsman against Australia...and then on top of that you have the countless innings of pure silk, Class, Dignity,Composure....All told it's just a simple matter of another award for the Greatest Batsman of all time.
Garry Sobers and Clive Loyd much deserved indivduals for the award, amount of matches Sachin played for the records is just mind blowing. players started in his debut time are now either coaching or are commentators with grown kids. there were better batsmens were around that era for example, Lara, Ponting, Kallis, Saeed Anwar, Ganguly, Dravid all were match winners compare to Sachine. Sachin is good batsmen no doubt but he is not match winner and mostly the home ground scores......
what a joke. only done out of precedent because lara, lloyd and sobers got one. is ponting going to be given an indian national honour?
@David Brumby, its the recoganition to the greatest batsmen of this era!! and Australlian knows this better than anyone else. hope you got my msg!!
Where is Richie Benaud???
There you go. That's enough for the little old master to go on for another 3 years riding this 'achievement'.
What an 'honour'...great . Well deserved..........Very lucky too probably ....at least didn't have to negotiate 145-150 KPH pace bowling on bouncy ,seaming pitches with pack of big growly mean fast bowlers running in at him sensing blood..... In fact was in a different homeland altogether wielding the bat although in a different format.
Thnaks to Australia for giving this honour to our master.
SACHIN IS THE BEST BATSMAN IN MODERN ERA...... HATS OFF TO OUR MASTER BLASTER ....
This indeed is a great honour for the "SON OF CRICKET"..The British should learn from this...to me it is high time they change their rules and award Kighthood to Sachin..he deserves to have the honorific "SIR" to his name.
Max Walker? If he's on the list, surely Billy Birmingham should be too........
retire soonnnnnnnnnnnn......................
Slightky off subject ... but does anyone know why Richie Benaud is not included? I would have thought he would have received some more accolades such as these. Considering his service to the game as a player, captain, journalist & broadcaster worldwide over 60 years that a knighthood wouldn't be out of the question?
a lot of people said on twitter ... retweeted by brydon coverdale himself: It would be better if tendudlkar is made a member of the aussie top order rather than the order of aussie.... Hahahah Love the respect this guy commands universally..... another one was : "Hope this makes him eligible to play the next year's ashes".
What a legend!! Deserves it - has been a wonderful representative of his nation throughout the world. Even if you aren't his fan, you've still got to respect him for his conduct as well as performance over the past 23 years (I haven't even lived that long.)
THANKS TO AUSTRALIAN P M FOR HONOURING OUR LIVING LEGEND.WE ARE WAITING FOR THE ANNOUNCEMENT FROM OUR OWN P M .SURPRISINGLY NAMES OF RITCHIE BENAUD AND SHANE WARNE WERE FOUND MISSING FROM THE LIST
@david brumby::: MORE THAN SOBERS AND CLIVE LLOYD HAVE HAD TO DO WITH AUSSIE
ooooo where is Shane WARNE???? where is B.Lee????????
Poor Shane Waugh left out.
How ridiculous!! What has he to do with Australia
No Warne in the list....!!
Sachin in the "Order of Australia"
Take A bow Little Master.......
@warne's exlusion ... this is not based on sports caliber only but more on the image that you carry around the world and the impact and motivation that you create in the society. Warneee has his share of controversies and has always had this bad guy image. His talent and contribution to the game however is without any doubt among the very very best.
Well deserved little master...This guy wont hurt a fly but hits cricket ball better than anyone else (used to) for a long long time
No Shane Warne???...U must be kidding... Or is the award also based on public behaviour as well??? ;D...In such case you can agree wid de list...Warnie z a naughty one!!!
Where is the best spinner cricket has ever seen. Talking abt warne if u guys still can't guess
it's well deserved as Sachin is well known in Australia to
Congrats to SRT. A great honour to one of the greatest sportman. Take a bow. Respect. Respect. Respect the real warrior who gave and continues to give his best always. Proud to be an Indian and consider myself fortunate to have born in an era. Bye the way i am 4 months elder to him, and have been following his success right from his first Test. I am thrilled once again. Cheers BOSS
congrats sachin..proud of u always..u made us proud once again as right thrOugh ur career...pleasing to b sharing the air u breathe...HATS OFF!!!
I am not a Tendulkar fan but still conveying my heartiest congratulations and well done. Great achievement.
@Nightwing32 on (October 16 2012, 06:53 AM GMT) 'Nothing against Tendulkar!'-that's exactly why :-)
congratulations to tendulkar....indeed a great honor and hopeless critics can keep shouting
Richly deserved by the greatest batsman since Bradman.
Nothing against Tendulkar but why?
Excellent decision and well deserved!
the list doesnt include two deserving candidates....Shane Warne and Michael Bevan
A wonderful honour for a wonderful wonderful Man...sachin the GOD..:-)
It is gigantically pleasure that Sachin got rare award from Australia Cricket board.
Congrats sachin and many thanks to Australian Goverment for this honour to our legendary cricketer
Just goes to prove how widely revered he is!!! Has a hospitality box at yorkshire named after him, has a bronze statue of bradman gifted to him by the SCG, and now this, among other cricketing recognitions world wide! Absolute Icon! THE BEST ALONG WITH SOBERS DON AND VIV!!!!!!!
If you consider only great player then no doubt Sachin Deserve to be part of this order. Beside Sachin, There are many other but I will choose only 1 from each main team. To let you know, from SL Murali, from PAK Wasim Akram, from India Sachin, from NZ Vittory, from WI Lara, from Eng Sir Ian Botham, from SA Kallis. Further, there may be many name from each team but some of above are well deserved non-Australian player.
congrats SRT. There were a lot of people writing all sorts of nonsense regarding SRT & his accomplishments. Hope this award shuts them up. Knowledgeable people recognize the achievements of another great. Hence this reward. Once again congrats SRT, as usual you have made us proud of being Indians. from a loyal Dravid fan.
among all the names is seen Dean Jones - thats a surprise and belittles the honour a bit . Cant fathom the reason he gets this honour - and no Shane Warne the greatest to have even spun the cricket ball ?
Little master will keep ridin' high no matter what you "keyboard warriors" will make of him! The best to ever hold a bat on a cricket field...PERIOD!!! God Of Cricket!!!
Jacques Kallis will no doubt be expecting his award when he arrives for the Test series in a couple of weeks.
Congratulations to Tendulkar for the recognition!!
Take a bow!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Great honour to a great batsman.
No Shane Warne in the list?? Does it also have something to do with conduct and behaviour?? Otherwise no way he can be left out when some very good but not great players like Langer, Hayden, Gilchrist and Mark Waugh are there. Warne is one of the greats.
Another feather in the cap..
No featured comments at the moment.
Another feather in the cap..
No Shane Warne in the list?? Does it also have something to do with conduct and behaviour?? Otherwise no way he can be left out when some very good but not great players like Langer, Hayden, Gilchrist and Mark Waugh are there. Warne is one of the greats.
Great honour to a great batsman.
Take a bow!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Congratulations to Tendulkar for the recognition!!
Jacques Kallis will no doubt be expecting his award when he arrives for the Test series in a couple of weeks.
Little master will keep ridin' high no matter what you "keyboard warriors" will make of him! The best to ever hold a bat on a cricket field...PERIOD!!! God Of Cricket!!!
among all the names is seen Dean Jones - thats a surprise and belittles the honour a bit . Cant fathom the reason he gets this honour - and no Shane Warne the greatest to have even spun the cricket ball ?
congrats SRT. There were a lot of people writing all sorts of nonsense regarding SRT & his accomplishments. Hope this award shuts them up. Knowledgeable people recognize the achievements of another great. Hence this reward. Once again congrats SRT, as usual you have made us proud of being Indians. from a loyal Dravid fan.
If you consider only great player then no doubt Sachin Deserve to be part of this order. Beside Sachin, There are many other but I will choose only 1 from each main team. To let you know, from SL Murali, from PAK Wasim Akram, from India Sachin, from NZ Vittory, from WI Lara, from Eng Sir Ian Botham, from SA Kallis. Further, there may be many name from each team but some of above are well deserved non-Australian player.