Lillee received the honour for services to cricket as well as the enormous amount of charity work, including supporting children with special needs.

 

Lillee took 355 Test wickets in 70 Test matches, which was a record at the time his career came to a close, and he is considered one of the greatest, if not the greatest, fast bowler of all time.

 

Since his playing days came to an end in the 1980s, Lillee has remained involved in cricket as a specialist bowling coach and successful administrator, both in Australia and abroad.

 

He has run a hugely successful Fast Bowling Academy in India for almost two decades, and commenced a similar program in Western Australia eight years go. He has also been President of the WACA since 2004.

 

Other honours to be accorded to Lillee include:

-Legend Status in Australian Museum of Sport

-MCG Statue

-Member of Wisden best ever World XI

-ICC Legend Status

-Honorary WACA Life Member

-Western Australia's Player of the Century as well as being a member of WA's Team of the Century

-Inaugural Inductee into Western Australian Gallery of Cricketing Greats

-Honorary Member of the Marylebone Cricket Club

 

One of the most glowing endorsements of Lillee's ability came from the great Sir Donald Bradman, who said that “he was capable of the most devastation against the best batsmen in the world”.

 

Lillee also founded the Dennis Lillee Disabled Sports Foundation, which provides support, coaching and training facilities to athletes with disabilities.

 

''It's always nice to be recognised … for having played very good cricket for your country and for being able to put something back into the game and society,” he told a media conference on the South Perth foreshore.

 

Lillee also said that Australia is still the “lucky country”.

 

“I think we have just got to be careful that whatever we do we don't mess up what makes it such a great country,” he said.

 

The WACA congratulates Dennis on behalf of all of its Members and cricket lovers across Western Australia.