Sydney: West Indian batting legend Brian Lara has been appointed an honorary member of the Order of Australia.
The Australian government in a statement Thursday hailed Lara's "service to Australia-Caribbean relations by promoting goodwill, friendship and sportsmanship through the sport of cricket".
"Lara has been pivotal in enabling cricket coaching workshops to be conducted for talented young cricketers," the statement says.
"By facilitating the use of Australian coaching staff locally, he has been the key to furthering a positive image of Australia in the Caribbean."
A prolific left-handed batsman, Lara holds record for the highest Test score of 400 not out. He has two triple centuries and nine double centuries to his name. The former West Indies captain had retired from international cricket in 2007.
Lara has 10,387 runs from 298 ODIs and 11,953 from 131 Tests.
The Order of Australia was instituted in 1975 "for the purpose of according recognition to Australian citizens and other persons for achievement or for meritorious service".
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