White Ferns great Amy Satterthwaite has admitted being named among the King's Birthday Honours for 2023 will take a long while to sink in.
Satterthwaite has been appointed a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to cricket - an accolade she described as "surreal".
"Pretty crazy," Satterthwaite told Newshub. "Pretty surreal, to be honest."
"It wasn't something I expected. I had to read the email a couple of times to make sure I was taking it in and this is happening.
"A very special moment."
Making the moment even more special is the fact that Satterthwaite has followed in the footsteps of her late grandmother, who earned a Queen's Service Medal 30 years ago.
"It would have been really special to share this moment with her, but equally it's been really special to share it with my family," she added.
Satterthwaite has been part of the NZ cricketing community for 20 years as a player, captain, mentor and coach.
She is New Zealand's most-capped player in women's one-day international cricket, with 145 matches across a 15-year career.
The elegant lefthander has scored 4639 runs in ODIs, including seven centuries and 27 fifties, along with 50 wickets at an average of just under 30. Four of those centuries came in consecutive matches back in 2017 - making Satterthwaite the first woman to achieve such a feat.
She also represented New Zealand in 111 Twenty20 Internationals, scoring 1784 runs and taking 26 wickets.
Last year, Satterthwaite announced her retirement from the game, transitioning into an assistant coaching role for Adelaide Strikers in the Australian Big Bash League.
The Cantabrian was at the forefront of a transformative era in the women's game, with the White Ferns last year earning equal pay with their male counterparts.
"To have been part of a group of people who have come through at a time when it has changed so much, we've been part of pushing for that and advocating for that.
"It's awesome to look back and see how far the game has come. At one part, it kept me in the game and kept me motivated to be part of that change."
And the 36-year-old said her latest accolade had given her some perspective on her stellar career, although she insists she still has plenty to contribute to the sport.
"I've always liked to think of myself as the quiet achiever in the corner, just going about their business. When you get recognition like this, it brings it to the fore and makes you look at what you've achieved, and think about the impact you've had.
"I feel like my service to cricket has only just begun. It's been an awesome journey so far and a special part of my life, but I hope I can give more back to the sport that will be of benefit."
Satterthwaite was one of several Kiwi sports figures recognised in the King's Birthday Honours.
Alongside their former coach Sir Wayne Smith, Black Ferns co-captains Ruahei Demant and Kennedy Simon were named as Members of the New Zealand Order of Merit (MNZM) for services to rugby, after leading New Zealand to World Cup glory on home soil last year.
Former All Blacks captain and NZR president Andy Leslie was named as an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to sport and community.
Full list of King's Birthday Honours for sport:
Wayne Smith KNZM, former All Blacks & Black Ferns coach, services to rugby
Shanelle Barrett ONZM, Olympic triathlete, services to triathlon
Opie Bosson ONZM, jockey, services to thoroughbred racing
Ruahei Demant ONZM, Black Ferns co-captain, services to rugby
Gerald Dwyer ONZM, rowing administrator, services to rowing
Loloma Foster ONZM, race walker, services to race walking
Michelle Hooper ONZM, Rugby World Cup director, services to sport
Andrea Nelson ONZM, Women's Cricket World Cup chief executive, services to sport
Barry Pickering ONZM, former All White & football administrator, services to football
Vic Pirihi ONZM, golf administrator, services to golf and Māori
Andy Leslie MNZM, former All Blacks captain, services to sport and the community
Christine Richardson MNZM, Special Olympics administrator, services to Special Olympics and the community
Amy Satterthwaite MNZM, former White Fern, services to cricket
Derek Shaw MNZM, athletics official, services to the environment, local government and athletics
Kennedy Simon MNZM, Black Ferns co-captain, services to rugby
Jack Sims MNZM, karate instructor, services to karate
Richard Dunkerton QSM, swim coach, services to swimming
Peter Housiaux QSM, surf lifesaving and canoe polo administrator, services to surf lifesaving and canoe polo
Robin Jackson QSM, swim official, services to swimming
Teremoana Maua-Hodges QSM, Cook Islands sports administrator, services to sport and culture
Sylvia Smith QSM, netball administrator, services to netball
Patricia Wyatt QSM, netball administrator, services to netball
