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The World Cup has returned to Australia, landing in Sydney on Thursday morning with most of the side that won the trophy in Barbados on Saturday. Ricky Ponting said the squad had enjoyed its party after sealing the third success in a row.

“[I am feeling] more refreshed than I was two days ago, that is for sure,” Ponting told AAP. “The celebrations were long and hard, which is what they should be after you win a World Cup. There were some pretty amazing scenes coming back to Australia from guys with not a lot of clothing on at different hours of the morning, but we celebrated as we should.”

Australia did not lose a game for the second World Cup in a row, sealing the tournament with a 53-run victory over Sri Lanka which was set up by Adam Gilchrist’s 149. “For us to again go through undefeated and once again have a lot of our players peaking at the right time in the World Cup is an amazing achievement by everybody,” Ponting said.

“Gilly’s innings in the final, as I have been flat out telling him, it was unbelievable, that was the one difference between the two teams in the final. It has been an amazing couple of months of our lives and even more amazing last few days.”

“That was definitely one of the most fulfilling days of my cricketing career,” Gilchrist said. “As Ricky said, it is very difficult in such a short space of time since it happened [to place it], but it adds to all of the fine achievements which this team has achieved over our careers.” The squad, which was missing Stuart Clark, Brad Hodge and Matthew Hayden, was due to have a reception in Martin Place in Sydney from midday (AEST).

Source:Cricket News