ORDER OF AUSTRALIA FOR BRIAN LARA

The retired West Indies cricket star yesterday received the golden-insignia from Australia’s Prime Minister Kevin Rudd at a simple ceremony at Australian High Commissioner Phillip Kentwell’s residence, at Coblentz Avenue, Cascade.

The Order of Australia was instituted by Her Majesty The Queen in 1975 and was established as “an Australian society of honour for the purpose of according recognition to Australian citizens and other persons for achievement or for meritorious service”.

Lara, who is also the holder of the Trinity Cross, was also toasted by Her Majesty during her visit to Trinidad for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM).

Rudd said yesterday the decision to honour Lara was an easy one since the world- record holder was one of the game’s greatest achievers.

“His achievement in international cricket is unmatched,” Rudd said.

The Australian Prime Minister was in Trinidad for the CHOGM, which he said had been a great success having achieved solutions for the global challenges the world faces, including the worrying issue of climate change.

Rudd also acknowledged both Australia and Trinidad and Tobago’s shared heritage and great passion for the game of cricket.

As he lauded Lara’s prowess in cricket, both on and off the field, Rudd joked that the batting legend had surpassed his own personal successes in the game.

“I am waiting for my own game to develop,” he said, as he also singled out Lara’s 13-year-old daughter, whom he called from the back of the room to join them for the formal ceremony.

Sydney is named after the cricket ground where her legendary father made his maiden test century.

Although now in retirement, Lara is still closely involved in the game which has brought him honours around the world and in the West Indies, by participating in the Australian Sport Outreach Programme, which facilitates intensive training programmes for young cricketers with top Australian coaches.

And this participation, his sportsmanship and his service to cementing Australian-Caribbean relations did not go unnoticed by the Australian Prime Minister, who said Lara was a hero to many Australians.

Of receiving the Australian honour, Lara said, “I am blessed with this distinction and proud... But it was not bestowed only on me but the game of cricket and will only serve to strengthen the relationship between our countries. It is a great honour but it is more representative of the relationship between Trinidad and Tobago, the West Indies and Australia.”

Lara admitted having had “fierce competition” from the Aussies during his game, although he teased that it was the English style of bowling that he loved.

“...And the Australians did copy our style of cricket,” he joked.

He said he looked forward to seeing Roy Frederick and Allan Border — both Australian cricket legends — on the field and styled his batting after theirs.

He also told of how he got his nickname — the Prince of Port-of-Spain — during a tour by the Australian cricket team to the West Indies in 1999 and of his trying to convince partner, Leasel Rovedas, to name their daughter after one of his favourite grounds, the Sydney Cricket Ground, where he scored his first test century — the highly acclaimed 277 in 1993.

“I am very proud of Sydney,” he said, looking over fondly at his shy, but beaming daughter, dressed in a stylish brown dress with golden accents.

He also praised the Australian government for lending assistance to nurture young cricketers to “ensure our youngsters get what is available to Australians.

“Australia has showed us how to take our personal game from one level to the next,” he said.

The Australian High Commissioner, who spoke first, said cricket was one of three key ingredients which served to shape Australia’s relationship with the Caribbean and that that country’s prime minister wanted to identify this relationship in a meaningful way.

“This ceremony is the first pillar of this bond by the Australian Prime Minister to Trinidad and Tobago,” Kentwell said.

The 40-year-old Lara, during his17-year cricket career, averaged more than 50 runs an innings against Australia while scoring nine centuries. He still holds the record for the highest test score of 400 not out and highest score in a first-class match of 501 not out. He has to his record 11,953 test runs, second only to Sachin Tendulkar of India.