To me, being Australian is about looking after your mates, taking care of the less fortunate, supporting the underdog and enhancing the spirit that makes all Australians unique.

You've got to have dreams to keep you going.

I suppose, because I am a sportsman and travel all over Australia, I see every day Australians doing small and large and often unnoticed deeds; many times I thought how nice it would be for them to be recognised, so I hope somehow that in receiving this honour that I represent these people.

I keep a lucky red rag in my pocket when I bat, which has been a good luck charm for a few years.

It's a hard life as a professional cricketer. It's not as easy as everyone makes out. To survive you need a tough hide.

There is no shame being beaten by such a great player, Sachin is perhaps only next to the Don

It doesn't matter how pretty you look it's how many runs you get.