The Hindu : Sport / Cricket : Triumphant West Indians arrive home

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Wednesday, Sep 29, 2004

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Sport - Cricket

Triumphant West Indians arrive home

BRIDGETOWN, SEPT. 28 The West Indians arrived home to cheering fans, celebrating their surprise victory in the Champions Trophy in England and recalling the devastating hurricanes that inspired them to win.

``We all lay in our beds very comfortably while our people in the Caribbean were fending for their lives,'' captain Brian Lara said. ``It was the catalyst for this very young team for what they achieved in England over the past three weeks.''

Hurricane Ivan killed nearly 70 people in the Caribbean — 39 in Grenada alone — while Jeanne was responsible for the deaths of more than 1,500 people, mostly in Haiti. Lara, manager Tony Howard and the team arrived in Barbados after their victory by two wickets over England in Saturday's final at the Oval, London.

It was the West Indies' first victory in a major tournament since it won the World Cup in England in 1979, also defeating England.

The team arrived at Grantley Adams International Airport and was met by Teddy Griffith, president of the West Indies Cricket Board, and government and other cricket officials. Former West Indies players, led by Sir Garry Sobers, also greeted them.

Darren Sammy, 20, was given the honour of leading the team off the British Airways flight carrying the trophy over his head. The youngest and least experienced member and the first player from St. Lucia to represent the West Indies, Sammy played only one of the four matches. — AP

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