ABC Radio broadcaster awarded for services to cricket and community

RICKY Ponting, Sachin Tendulkar and Jacques Kallis have got nothing on Jim Maxwell's cricket longevity.

Jim Maxwell

RICKY Ponting, Sachin Tendulkar and Jacques Kallis have got nothing on Jim Maxwell's cricket longevity.

The ABC broadcaster, 62, has covered more than 230 Test matches since joining the organisation in 1973.

The Woollahra resident has been appointed a Member of the Order of Australia for his contribution to broadcasting and the community.

He said he still thoroughly enjoyed his work and the travelling it entails.

"You're enjoying yourself, doing something you love to do, so you never see it as anything particularly arduous," he said.

"Although you might be under the pump now and then like when you're travelling and things go amiss essentially I'm fortunate to be in a place where a lot of people would like to be."

Mr Maxwell said receiving feedback from listeners and meeting new people were particularly rewarding parts of the job.

"You make a lot of friends," he said. "That's certainly been the case over the best part of the 40 years that I've been lucky enough to do it. They can be players, fans or other commentators."

One of those friends is former cricketer and commentator Richie Benaud, who is involved with The Primary Club, the charity where Mr Maxwell is president. He said the club's cause is close to his heart.

It aims to give people with disabilities the chance to compete in physical activities and raises money in a variety of ways.

These include cricket matches, Test match functions and a $5 members' fine for each Australian player scoring a golden duck in any international match.