Australia clinched their record sixth World Cup trophy, but the team is yet to bask in the celebratory atmosphere back home. While some members, including captain Pat Cummins, have already returned to Australia, several players are still in India, engaged in a five-match T20I series.
Amidst this, the World Cup trophy is en route to Sydney for a planned celebration by Cricket Australia scheduled for next week. However, this presents a dilemma as key World Cup heroes such as Travis Head, Glenn Maxwell, Steve Smith, Josh Inglis, and Adam Zampa won’t be able to partake in the celebrations.
As per a report from ‘The Sydney Morning Herald’, A public celebration is scheduled before Australia’s first Test series against Pakistan on December 14 in Perth. However, certain players, including Inglis, Maxwell, and Zampa, are expected to miss the celebration due to their commitments to the Big Bash League 2023 (BBL), which kicks off on December 7.
Australia’s past World Cup win celebrations
Australia’s previous World Cup-winning teams didn’t encounter such demanding cricket schedule conflicts. The victorious 1999 team was treated to a ticker-tape parade in Sydney immediately upon their return. Similarly, after the 2015 home triumph, celebrations took place at Federation Square in Melbourne.
In 2003, despite a brief break with the squad heading to the West Indies for a Test series in less than a week, over 5,000 people flooded the streets of Perth to welcome Ricky Ponting and his team.
Australian wicket-keeper batter Alex Carey also mentioned that the Australian cricket team has scattered after winning the World Cup, with players heading in different directions for T20s. He acknowledged the odd scheduling of playing again so soon after a World Cup victory but expressed confidence in the team’s ability to perform strongly and play fearlessly in upcoming matches.
“We’ve all split off our own different ways, there’s T20s coming up, some guys are on aeroplanes at the moment getting home as well. I think once we all settle back down and catch up again in Perth or wherever it is, it’ll be nice to talk about it and reflect on it a little bit more,” Alex Carey said.
“It’s probably pretty odd scheduling now that you look at it, to win a World Cup and a few days later you’re playing again, but the guys over there no doubt will perform really strongly. I think they’ll play pretty fearless cricket,” he added.
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