Barbadian honoured by Queen

LONDON: International cricketer Mark Alleyne, who was schooled in Barbados, has been included in Britain’s New Year Honours list in recognition of his success with County team Gloucestershire in the past five years, in which time they have won six one-day titles. The 35-year-old Gloucestershire captain and new player/coach, played 10 One-Day International (ODI) matches for England between 1999 and 2000 and gets an MBE (Member of the Order of the British Empire). “I was very surprised. “I never thought I would be considered for anything like this,” said Alleyne, who won a Wisden “Cricketer of the Year” award in 2001.

Alleyne, along with John Bracewell, the former coach, masterminded Gloucestershire to three Cheltenham and Gloucester Trophy victories, the latest against Worcestershire last summer. And that was capped off with promotion to the First Division of the County Championship. David Graveney, England’s chairman of selectors, expressed his congratulations to Alleyne. “It is a great award. “It is not often that a person who has achieved success in the county game has been rewarded with an MBE,” said Graveney, in a BBC report.