Croft "privileged" to receive MBE

By Richard Thomas

Former England and Glamorgan all rounder Robert Croft said it was a “privilege” to receive an MBE in the Queen’s New Year’s honours list. Both Croft and Mark Ramprakash, the former England batsman, received MBEs for their services to the game.

Croft, 42, has been honoured for his services to English and Welsh cricket in a first-class career that spanned 23 years and which ended with his retirement at the end of the 2012 season.

He played 21 Tests and 50 one-day internationals for England and also was an important part of Glamorgan sides which won the County Championship in 1997 and one-day honours in 1993, 2002 and 2004.

Croft, who captained the county between 2003-2006, said: “It is a great honour and a privilege to receive an MBE. It’s fantastic to receive recognition of years of hard work, and especially in a team sport it’s good when an individual receives an accolade,” he said.
 
“It’s not something that you set out to get, but it is wonderful when it comes along. I don’t think it has sunk in properly. I’m still just a Carmarthenshire boy who did quite well in cricket.
 
"I count myself lucky that I was able to play for as long as I did and I'm grateful for the support I have received over the years from team mates, coaches and everyone at Glamorgan Cricket.
 
“However, I don't think I could have achieved what I did without such supportive family and friends. I owe a lot to my parents, Susan and Malcolm, my grandparents, my wife Marie and children Callum and Kara Beth.
 
“Collecting the honour is something to look forward too, but I’ll be quite nervous when I’m going up there. It’s just a privilege to be asked to receive this honour.”

During his impressive playing career which spanned four decades, Croft became the only player in Glamorgan’s history to claim more than 1,000 first-class wickets and score more than 10,000 first-class runs for the Welsh county.


Date: 29/12/2012 12:30:59 by Richard Thomas
In: Today | Glamorgan | England |