Tendulkar to receive Australian civic honor

CANBERRA, Australia (AP) — Australian Associated Press reports that Indian cricket great Sachin Tendulkar is set to receive a rare Australian civic honor.

AAP reports that Prime Minister Julia Gillard on Tuesday said during her first visit to India as Australia's leader that Tendulkar was to be made an honorary member of the Order of Australia.

Gillard said it was a "special honor" rarely conferred on non-Australians.

The diminutive 39-year-old batsman has scored more runs in test and limited-overs cricket than any other player and is adored by fans in India and across the cricket world. He already has received the highest praise possible for a cricketer in Australia, with the great batsman Don Bradman reportedly telling his wife before he died that Tendulkar reminded him of himself.