Shane Warne has been posthumously appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia as part of the Queen's Birthday Honours List.
Warne, who tragically passed away at the age of just 52 in March after suffering a heart attack while on holiday in Thailand, was honoured for "distinguished service to cricket as a player, role model and commentator, to the community through charitable initiatives, and for philanthropic contributions".
During an illustrious playing career, Warne took 1,001 Test and ODI wickets for Australia, helping them dominate the Ashes and win the World Cup in 1999.
Warne also did a huge amount of philanthropic work, notably auctioning off his iconic baggy green cap to raise money for the victims of the 2020 Australian bushfires and rasing millions for ill and underprivileged children through his own Shane Warne Foundation.
Warne's father Keith accepted the award on his late son's behalf, saying: "Over the last few difficult months, we have reflected a great deal on Shane personally and his amazing achievements throughout his life.
"This award acknowledges those achievements and recognises that Shane was much more than an incredible cricketer. He really was a selfless and remarkable man who always looked to support those less fortunate.
"We are so proud of him and know he would be extremely honoured to receive such an accolade. We hope his legacy will inspire many generations to come." Australia women's captain Meg Lanning, former batter Doug Walters and ex-captain Muriel Picton were also honoured, with all three awarded Members (AM) of the General Division.
Cricket Australia CEO Nick Hockley said: "We are enormously proud to see Australian women's captain Meg Lanning recognised in today's Honour List. Her leadership and performances have been central to the outstanding success of our women's team.
"Shane Warne was one of the most talented and charismatic cricketers the world has ever seen and we are reminded today of the indelible legacy he created both on and off the field. Muriel Picton and Doug Walters both hold a special place in Australian cricket and we are delighted that they have been recognised today as Members of the General Division."
