Stuart Broad bestowed with prestigious CBE order in King Charles' New Year's honours

Renowned English cricketer Stuart Broad has been honoured with a prestigious CBE in King Charles' New Year's honours for his exceptional contributions to cricket. Broad, a stalwart of the game had bid farewell after the Ashes in July, culminating his career in style. His final match was nothing short of a fairy tale, clinching victory for England with a last-ball six as a batter and sealing the win by claiming the ultimate wicket as England secured a 2-2 series draw.

With a remarkable tally of 604 Test wickets, he firmly holds the fifth spot in the all-time list, standing just behind his longtime teammate James Anderson among fast bowlers. His dual prowess as a bowler and a batter placed him among the elite, being only one of ten players in cricket history to amass over 3,000 runs and take 300 Test wickets.

Recently, in a touching tribute, Trent Bridge had renamed the Pavilion End in honour of Stuart Broad as they acknowledged his staggering career tally of over 1,000 wickets. The elevated recognition of CBE honour comes alongside Marcus Trescothick, another deserving recipient, marking their distinguished contributions to the sport. 

“All I ever wanted to do was play cricket, and to have had the career that I was able to enjoy and to receive honours like this is incredibly special. I’m very proud that my contributions to cricket have been recognised, and it means a lot to me and my family,” Broad was quoted as saying by ECB’s official website.

“As a whole game we’re absolutely delighted to see Stuart and Marcus honoured in this way. They have been fantastic ambassadors for cricket for many years, and they have played a major role in helping build the profile of our game and in turn bringing more people into our sport. Stuart has long been an inspirational figure and will be remembered as a true great of English cricket, and the spectacular nature of his retirement this summer was the perfect farewell,” said Richard Thompson, Chair of the England & Wales Cricket Board.

What is CBE honour?

The CBE, short for Commander of the Order of the British Empire, stands as a prestigious honour bestowed upon individuals for their outstanding national or regional influence. Recognized for remarkable contributions and innovation in various fields, it ranks highest among Order of the British Empire awards, excluding knighthood/damehood. It signifies prominent roles at a national level or significant leadership at a regional level, acknowledging distinguished achievements across different domains.