Former Test cricket captain Steve Waugh was named on Sunday as Australian of the Year, following a long line of sportsmen to receive one of the country's most prestigious awards.

Waugh retired from cricket earlier this month after leading his team to a drawn Test series with India.

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He made his Test debut in 1985 and by the time he had finished he had played 168 matches -- more than anyone else in history and scored the second highest amount of runs (10,927).

Waugh, 38, was also recognised for his charity work after he began sponsoring and raising money for children in India who suffer from leprosy.

"I've said before what a great privilege it is to represent your country. This award takes this privilege to a new and totally unbelievable level for me," Waugh said in a televised statement.

"In accepting, I hope the award will help the focus on me to (be) about more than just cricket.

"If it is meant as a recognition in some way of the other work I've done in the community in Australia and in India then I'm grateful indeed."