Coetzer, whose four one-day international centuries include the highest World Cup score by an associate batsman, has been awarded an MBE.

Born in Aberdeen, the 35-year-old has been a mainstay of Scotland sides since his debut in 2008, scoring a national record 2,082 ODI runs at an average of 43.37 in his 52 appearances.

His 156 against Bangladesh in Dunedin in 2015 was Scotland’s first in World Cup cricket, while captaining the side to victory over England last summer was another career highlight.

? @MeerGoose11 is Scotland’s all-time leading run-scorer.

4,404 First Class runs
5,186 List A runs
2,082 ODI runs
1,113 T20I runs

What has been your favourite Coetzer knock in Scotland colours? #FollowScotland ??????? pic.twitter.com/AmOBFtlGMm

— Cricket Scotland (@CricketScotland) June 8, 2019

“I’m shocked, surprised and extremely proud too,” Coetzer told the Press and Journal. “No-one starts out their career looking for accolades and I never really expected this.

“I’ve always tried to promote the game of cricket wherever my career has taken me and it’s overwhelming to be recognised with this honour.

“The hardest part has been keeping it quiet. Only our families have known about it.”

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Coetzer, who has played county cricket for Northamptonshire and Durham, is currently director of cricket at Benwell Hill Cricket Club in Newcastle.