Order of Australia

At that time, Sachin Tendulkar became the fourth cricketer from outside Australia to earn an Order of Australia award. Julia Gillard, Australia's prime minister, made the news while visiting a cricket clinic in Delhi, saying Tendulkar, who is presently in South Africa for the Champions League Twenty20, will be honored by cabinet minister Simon Crean, who is scheduled to visit India shortly. Gillard told reporters, "I'm extremely glad we're going to confer on Sachin Tendulkar membership of the Order of Australia, an AM."

Tendulkar has played 106 Tests, One-Day Internationals, and Twenty20 Internationals against Australia, more than any other cricketer. From 1991 to 2011, he toured Australia five times for Test series, with only Jack Hobbs scoring more Test runs against the Australians.

Since Brian Lara was named an honorary member of the Order of Australia in 2009, Tendulkar will be the first non-Australian cricketer to receive the accolade. "For contribution to Australia-Caribbean relations by fostering goodwill, friendliness, and sportsmanship via the sport of cricket," Lara was bestowed the honor.