England Test captain Alastair Cook and his team-mate Stuart Broad were included in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List.
Cook, who recently became the fastest players in terms of age to score 10,000 test runs, will receive a CBE(Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire) for his services to cricket, almost five years after the MBE(Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire) he was given for his performance in the 2010-11 Ashes series victory in Australia.
Cook said: “Receiving this kind of honour means a great deal to me and it’s also a hugely proud moment for me and my family.
“I also see this as recognition for my team-mates, my coaches and family and friends who have all helped me in my England career over the last 10 years – and, of course, the England fans who have always given me such fantastic support at home and abroad.”
Meanwhile, Broad was awarded an MBE.
He said: “It’s an honour and a privilege to be recognised in this way. I’m obviously delighted and very proud. It is a lovely moment for my family too. My parents will be delighted after guiding me into cricket and instilling me with a love of the game from an early age.
“Cricket has been a constant part of my life ever since and I would like to dedicate this honour to all the people that have supported me at different stages of my career. They’ve all helped me fulfil my dream of playing cricket for my country.”
ECB chairman Colin Graves heaped praise on the duo and said that it was a tremendous honour for the two players to receive such awards.
“It’s great to see our England players win national recognition and this is a tremendous honour for both players,” Graves said. “Alastair’s cricketing achievements now place him among the true greats of the game and he can be very proud of what he has given to the England team over the past decade – both as a world-class opening batsman and a highly successful England captain.
“Stuart is rightly renowned as one of England’s finest ever fast bowlers and his new-ball partnership with James Anderson has been an integral part of the England Test side’s recent successes. Today’s award also caps off a wonderful for a year for Stuart in which he produced career-defining spells of fast bowling at Trent Bridge and Johannesburg which will live long in the memory of all England fans. Our congratulations to Stuart on an honour which will mean a huge amount to him and his family.”