Sports Ministers defends 2005 Ashes honour for the Poms

London, Jan 5 (UNI) Amid criticism that doling out honours to the English cricketers for their 2005 Ashes triumph was rather premature, British Sports Minister Richard Caborn has thrown his weight behind the cricketers and said they richly deserved it.

Throwing his weight behind Andrew Flintoff's men who surrendered the Ashes with a 0-5 whitewash in Australia, the Sports Minister said there could be no doubt that the cricketers deserved the award after winning the Ashes in 2005.

''These were fantastic achievements and were duly recognised,'' Mr Caborn told BBC Radio Five Live.

England captain Michael Vaughan, coach Duncan Fletcher, chairman of selectors David Graveney and even manager Phil Neale were awarded OBEs, while rest of the players were awarded MBEs.

''This nation was lifted by winning the Ashes - it was a fantastic feat, as was winning the Rugby World Cup in 2003,'' said Mr Caborn.

Paul Collingwood was one of the MBE recipients and incidentally, Shane Warne ridiculed the England bat in Sydney during a sledging incident, triggering debate about the decision to honour the players.

The stump microphone at Sydney overheard Warne telling Collingwood ''You got an MBE, right? For scoring seven at the Oval?'' The Sports Minister, however, took a lighter view of the incident and joked, ''If Shane Warne wants an MBE, he can give me a call!'' UNI