Cricket great Shane Warne recognised posthumously in Queen’s birthday honours

Shane Warne has been recognised posthumously in this year’s Queen’s birthday honours list, with the cricket great becoming an officer of the Order of Australia.

The former Test spinner, who died from a heart attack in March, was joined by the retired former world No 1 tennis player, Ash Barty, in being honoured with an AO, while the current women’s national cricket captain, Meg Lanning, was awarded an AM, a member of the Order of Australia.

Australia’s only Winter Olympics gold medal winner at this year’s Games in Beijing, Jakara Anthony, was recognised with an OAM, a medal of the Order of Australia.

Warne, whose sudden death in Thailand prompted an outpouring of national grief, a stream of tributes and a state memorial service at the MCG, which now features a stand bearing his name, was one of 992 Australians to receive awards on Sunday night.

He was honoured for his distinguished service to cricket as a player, role model and commentator, to the community through charitable initiatives, and for philanthropic contributions.

Warne was one of Australia’s greatest cricketers, taking 708 wickets over a Test career that spanned 15 years. In 2012 he was inducted into the Australian Cricket Hall of Fame and was named one of Wisden’s Cricketers of the Century in 2000.

His work off the pitch was equally prodigious; he founded the Shane Warne Foundation in 2004 and was a supporter and benefactor for numerous other charitable and conservation organisations, including My Room Children’s Cancer Charity and the Elton John Aids Foundation.

Barty, who stunned the tennis world earlier this year when she announced her retirement at the age of 25, was awarded her AO for distinguished service to tennis at the elite level and to youth