Sydney, May 3:

Australia’s World Cup winning cricketers returned home to a hero’s welcome on Thursday, feted at breakfast by the prime minister and later by thousands of fans at a civic reception in central Sydney.

Captain Ricky Ponting raised the huge cup to the cheering crowd at the outdoor ceremony in Martin Place after telling a news conference the rest of the cricketing world had a long way to go before it could match Australia.

Critics had begun to suggest the gap between Australia and other national teams was shrinking and the Australians were perhaps no longer the best one-day side in the world, he said.

“I think we have just gone ahead and even widened that gap so it is up to the opposition countries to address that fact and look at what we are doing. And look at how they are playing and make sure next time they play against us, they can compete better against us.”

Coach John Buchanan joined in the orgy of self-congratulation, saying Australia’s opponents should realise their success was not just down to natural talent.

“Hopefully the world looks at what Australian cricket does and understands there are not only players but systems in place that have made this team what they are.” Prime Minister John Howard, earlier, hailed Ponting for “great leadership” and his team for a “stunning performance.”

Lankans honoured

COLOMBO: The Sri Lankan cricket team, runners-up in the World Cup, were honoured with an elaborate ceremony and a parade through the capital when they returned home on Thursday.Traditional dancers and drummers performed near the tarmac as the players descended from a Qatar Airways flight, and they were garlanded by Sports Minister Bandula Basnayake and other officials.— AP