Cricketer Devon Malcolm to celebrate OBE all year

Former England cricketer Devon Malcolm has said he plans to celebrate all year after being made an OBE at Windsor Castle for his services to the sport.

The 62-year-old played at county level for Northamptonshire, Derbyshire and Leicestershire and took 128 Test wickets for England during the 1990s.

He was also recognised in the King's Birthday Honours for promoting diversity in cricket and collected his award on Tuesday from the Princess Royal.

Malcolm said he had marked the occasion with family and friends into the "wee hours" and would continue celebrating "little by little that for another month or probably the next year or so".

Speaking to BBC Radio Northamptonshire, he said he had previously played charity matches in the grounds of Windsor, but had never been into the castle before, which had been an "amazing" experience.

"It was quite an occasion taking the family there," said Malcolm.

"When you pick these things up it's not just for me, but for the family - the major part is the people behind you."

He joked he had to ask for more than the allocated three tickets in order to take his wife and four children and avoid a family squabble.

The fast bowler added he had enjoyed a long chat with Princess Anne during the investiture and was honoured to meet her as he had long admired her as a sportswoman.

Malcolm, who lives near Northampton, retired in 2003 but remained in the game and is president of Brixworth Cricket Club in Northamptonshire.

He also works with the England and Wales Cricket Board to encourage more black children to play the sport.

He was born in Kingston, Jamaica, and started his professional career with Derbyshire in 1984.

The cricketer went on to play for England and notably took nine wickets for only 57 runs in 1994 against South Africa at The Oval.

Malcolm said he "couldn't believe it" when he first received a letter to say he was being awarded the honour and had to re-read it.

However, he said when he told his friends they thought it was his second or third such award due to his long sporting career.

"My job has not finished," said Malcolm, who hoped it could now help "highlight the amount of work that needs doing".

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