New Delhi: It was a familiar homecoming for Australia's all-conquering team who returned after completing a hat-trick of World Cup titles.
It was also the final chance for the fans to say farewell to the legendary Glenn McGrath who bid farewell to international cricket after plotting his team's unbeaten run.
"Thank you and congratulations for a remarkable performance which capped a remarkable re-gaining of the Ashes only a few weeks earlier. It was a stunning performance," Australian Prime Minister John Howard greeted them by saying.
Well earned accolades for Australia's World Cup heroes who returned home to a rapturous welcome. And why not, when back in the Caribbean, they proved that even when it came to celebrating, the Aussies were the best in the business.
"Celebrations were long and hard, which is what they should be after you win a World Cup, I think there was some pretty amazing scenes coming back to Australia from guys not a lot clothing on, different hours of the morning and whatever. But we celebrated as we should," Aussie skipper Ricky Ponting remarks.
And even as the champions were feted by a thankful nation, there was realisation that some won't be part of the dressing room again. Glenn McGrath has walked into the sunset, as has coach John Buchanan. But the man of the final has no plans of joining them yet.
"I am certainly not. I still love it, still keen to play, not a time when you're really high on emotion or down and flat at the end of 2005 Ashes we were all at rock bottom, so they're not the times to make decisions on these things but I am certain enough that I've got every intention of playing next summer," explosive wicketkeeper-batsman Adam Gilchrist says.
But even with the big guns gone, Australian cricket will be tough to knock off their heady pedestal.
"I think when everybody thought, that gap was probably coming back, maybe Australia weren't even the best team in world one-day cricket anymore. I think we've just gone ahead now and even widened that gap. So it's up to opposition countries to address that fact and maybe look at what we're doing and the way they're playing their cricket and trying to make sure the next time they come up against us they could compete even better than they have this time," Ponting says.
More celebrations will inevitably follow at home for the World Champions before they get cracking for their next challenge.
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Total Comments: 2
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Posted By bunty61
goooo aussie! good on yer, mates!
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Posted By jack
Brilliant performances from a brilliant team! So it is only right that they party as much as they want. They
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