Stuart Broad, the Nottinghamshire and England fast bowler, will receive an Honorary Doctorate of Laws from the University of Nottingham this afternoon.
The honour comes on the back of a year that saw the 29-year-old feature on the front as well as back pages of the national newspapers, following his record-breaking haul of 8-15 in his home Investec Ashes Test against Australia at Trent Bridge.
Bowling Australia out for 60 in August 2015 to all but secure the famous urn for England was the most high profile and spectacular of his cricket achievements.
He has, however, been a leading contributor for his country on the international stage for almost a decade.
He has won the Ashes on four separate occasions, starting in 2009 when his first innings performance of 5-37 turned the decisive Fifth Test at the Oval on its head, to help secure a 2-1 series victory.
The Melton Mowbray born paceman saw his 2010/11 series down under cut short by injury, before playing a full part again as the urn was retained in this country in 2013.
In the away Ashes series that immediately followed, Broad was cast as pantomime villain by the home crowd after refusing to walk at Trent Bridge, but the heckles didn’t stop him taking 21 wickets at 27.52 in a losing cause.
A year and a half on, Broad and England had their redemption amid scenes of great celebration at Trent Bridge.
Other highlights in an England shirt have included winning the ICC World Twenty20 in the Caribbean in 2010, a home hat-trick against India at Trent Bridge the following year and posting a cereer-best 169 against Pakistan at Lord’s.
He was the first bowler in the world to 50 Test wickets during 2015, a year that also saw him become the fifth Englishman to pass 300 dismissals in the five day arena.
International commitments dictate that Broad’s appearances in a Nottinghamshire shirt are fleeting; he has made 25 appearances in all competitions since joining the Club in 2008.
But, having featured in the NatWest T20 Blast fixture against Leicestershire Foxes last season, he was still signing autographs and posing for photographs with supporters an hour after the conclusion of the game.
A resident of West Bridgford, Broad’s charitable endeavours with ‘The Broad Appeal’ have raised significant funds for the Motor Neurone Disease Association.
"Every year we award a small number of honorary degrees to outstanding individuals, and given what Stuart Broad has done for the city, county and country, there isn't anyone more deserving of such an award in my view," said Dr Pauk Greatrix, Registrar at The University of Nottingham.
The 2015 season has seen dramatic last-gasp four day victories, thrilling limited-overs contests and an historic Investec Ashes Test, all in the unique surroundings of Trent Bridge.
Next season, we’d wager, will be no less enthralling and frankly we’d hate for you to miss out.