Mr Gainsford said the award was unexpected.

“It was a shock, but indeed an honour, to be acknowledged for services to cricket,” he said.

“Some of my administration colleagues have been rewarded with Order of Australia medals during my time in cricket but I never thought that one day it would be me.

“You do it to because you love the game, not the reward.”

Mr Gainsford said his main aim when he began cricket administration was to leave the game in a better position, both structurally and program-wise.

“Whether or not I achieved this is for other people to judge, but I would certainly hope so,” he said.

Mr Gainsford started as secretary of Backwater Cricket Club in 1961, and has since been through all types of cricket administration. He spent time on the NSW Cricket Board and Cricket Australia’s games development committee as well as Country Cricket and the Western Zone.

Highlights of his playing career include turning out for NSW Country at the Sydney Cricket Ground in 1973 and playing against the West Indies at No. 1 Oval in Dubbo in 1975.

He retired in 2006 after a serious car accident left him unable to fulfill the demanding commitments associated with cricket.

He was awarded life membership of Backwater, Narromine association, Macquarie Valley, Western Zone, NSW Cricket and NSW Country Cricket.

He said his family had been very understanding over the years, in particular his wife Jill who took care of the farm while he was away on cricket business.

“I spent a lot of time away from home,” he said. “Jill has been a magnificent standby and deserves to share in some part of this award. We’ve been married 41 years out of the 45 so she’s had cricket, cricket, cricket - a cricket widow.”

Mr Gainsford said it was interesting to see people involved around the world in the administration of the game.

“In a period of that long you meet a lot of people from grassroots level right through to people who are governing cricket around the world,” he said. “The good people I’ve worked with have made it a pleasure, that’s what keeps you going. If I had my time again I’d do exactly the same thing.”

Mr Gainsford will travel to Government House to receive his award at a date yet to be advised.