Retired West Indies cricket star Brian Lara has been appointed an honorary member of the Order of Australia, a government ackowledgement of his record-breaking career. The Australian government issued a statement Friday praising Lara's "service to Australia-Caribbean relations by promoting goodwill, friendship and sportsmanship through the sport of cricket." "Lara has been pivotal in enabling cricket coaching workshops to be conducted for talented young cricketers," the statement said. Over his 17-year career, Lara, 40, averaged more than 50 runs an innings against Australia while scoring nine centuries. The Trinidadian still holds the record for the highest test score (400 not out) and highest score in a first-class match (501 not out.) He scored 11,953 test runs, second only to India's Sachin Tendulkar. The Order of Australia was established in 1975 "for the purpose of according recognition to Australian citizens and other persons for achievement or for meritorious service." Lara retired from international cricket in 2007, after the World Cup was held in the Caribbean for the first time.
