Warne, Lanning honoured in Queen's Birthday List

Australia captain Meg Lanning and the late Shane Warne have been acknowledged in the annual Queen’s Birthday Honours List.

Lanning, 30, was awarded Member of the General Division (AM) for significant service to women’s cricket at the elite level.

The three-time Belinda Clark Award winner, who has scored more ODI centuries than any other woman and who has represented her country on 221 occasions, has led her team to unrivalled success in all formats since taking over the captaincy as a 21-year-old in 2014.

Lanning led Australia to victory at the ODI World Cup in New Zealand in April, adding to the three T20 World Cup wins she captained in 2014, 2018 and 2020.

Warne, whose sudden death from a suspected heart attack on March 4 aged 52 shocked and saddened the cricket world, has posthumously been appointed an Order (AO) of Australia, for distinguished service to cricket as a player, role model and commentator, to the community through charitable initiatives, and for philanthropic contributions.

Warne finished his international career with 708 Test wickets and a further 293 in one-day internationals, placing him second in the list of all-time international wicket-takers, and following his retirement, remained prolific in the sport as a coach, mentor and broadcaster.

But Sunday's honour was also bestowed on Warne for his service to the wider community through charity and philanthropy.

Those acts included auctioning his Baggy Green Test cap with all proceeds dedicated to bushfire victims, and his Shane Warne Foundation, which raised $7.8 million to support ill and underprivileged children in Australia.

He was a benefactor for My Room Children's Cancer Charity. And a long-time supporter of Challenge, which also helped kids with cancer, and he donated memorabilia and made voluntary appearances at fundraising events for a range of charities including Elton John AIDS Foundation, Australian Red Cross, Scope and the Small Steps Project.

Former players Muriel Picton and Doug Walters were also awarded Members (AM) of the General Division for significant service to Australian cricket at the elite level.

Picton is a former Australian women’s Test team captain and respected administrator, while Walters played 74 Tests and 28 ODIS and is an inductee of the Cricket Australia Hall of Fame.

Kersi Meher-Homji, David Tomlinson and Russell Wight were also honoured, awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for their service to cricket in the community.

"All those recognised today have made an immense contribution to both the game and the communities they work and live in across the country," Cricket Australia chief executive 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.

"We are equally proud to see Kersi Meher-Homji, David Tomlinson and Russell Wight honoured for their service to cricket and their communities. Our sport is richer for the contributions each of them have made.

"The Queen’s Birthday Honours List provides us a chance to recognise and thank some of the incredibly important contributors right across our community.

"Cricket Australia congratulates everyone that has been recognised in the Queen’s Birthday Honour List 2022, especially those from across the cricket community."