New Zealand’s left—arm spinner Daniel Vettori has been made an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit for his services to cricket on the occasion of Queen’s Birthday Honours investiture ceremony in Auckland.
The former New Zealand captain, who has taken 345 Test wickets and scored 4,167 runs, said it was a privilege to get recognition for something he always loved doing.
“It feels like a real honour. The first time I knew about (the royal honour), it was just a real surprise. I couldn’t get over it,” Vettori was quoted as saying by the ‘New Zealand Herald’
The honour is bestowed upon all those who have done great services in the field of philanthropy, sport, music, local government and the community.
The 32—year—old cricketer, who made his debut at the age of 18, the youngest by a New Zealander in Tests, retired from captaincy after leading the team to the semifinals of the 2011 World Cup.
