Tendulkar receives Order of Australia

Mumbai: Sachin Tendulkar has been conferred the Order of Australia by Australian minister Simon Crean for his service to India-Australia relations by promoting goodwill, friendship and sportsmanship through the sport.

Tendulkar, who is only the second Indian after Soli Sorabjee to get the honour, received the honour at a function in Mumbai on Tuesday.

Tendulkar said he's glad to receive the honour and also described Australians as tough competitors, who play with never-say-die attitude. "They [Australians] are fierce competitors and play well and hard. But they also shower you with praises when you come out and play well. In fact my favourite ground away from home is Sydney," Tendulkar said.

Tendulkar is only the second Indian after Soli Sorabjee to get the honour.

Tendulkar said his most memorable trip to Australia was when he got a chance to meet late Donald Bradman. "When I asked him [Bradman] why a strike rate of 99.9, he replied: Son, it is not bad for a 90-year-old."

Order of Australia was announced by Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard in her visit to India last month.

Sorabjee was made an Honorary Member of the Order of Australia (AM) "for service to Australia-India bilateral legal relations" in 2006. Tendulkar is the fourth non-Australian cricketer to receive the honour, the other three being Brian Lara, Sir Garfield Sobers and Clive Lloyd.

Lara was made an honorary member in 2009 while Lloyd was conferred the honour way back in 1985. Sir Garfield Sobers received it in 2003.

(With inputs from PTI)

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