Inside Australia's World Cup celebration bubble

After Australia made Hagley Oval their own in Sunday's World Cup final, the newly crowned world champions remained on the ground long into the evening toasting their triumph.

That is, until the sprinklers came on.

Meg Lanning's team have formed something of a ritual across their three ICC tournament wins in the past three-and-a-half years; once the trophy has been presented, the crowds have departed and the ground has grown quiet, they make their way back out to the middle.

It started with a balmy evening in Antigua, continued in the vastness of the MCG, and again in the cool chill of an April evening in Christchurch, the Australian squad formed a circle on the pitch, trophy in the middle.

Image Id: 8D67A84BCE934787A2CEEC675988B73D Image Caption: Australia's 2018 T20 World Cup celebrations in Antigua // cricket.com.au Image Id: 5E5F16AA733B43249358543F143EF072 Image Caption: Gathering on the MCG pitch after the 2020 T20 World Cup // cricket.com.auImage Id: 7B67DC0D38724056A8C82DD6B73F5A66 Image Caption: The 2022 ODI World Cup winners on the Hagley Oval pitch // Getty

"It was a lot of fun, we spent a fair bit of time at the ground, just taking it all in and just allowing ourselves to understand what we've achieved," Lanning told cricket.com.au on Monday afternoon, as the Australians were presented with medals of pounamu (a green stone found only on New Zealand's South Island) by Christchurch City Council.

"It was a good night, it was so nice to be able to top off what's been an incredible three months and few years as well, with the World Cup win.

"They're the moments you remember.

"You just chat to the person sitting next to you about the game, and the feelings around it and they're really special (because) you don't know when you're going to get back a World Cup final let alone win it."

To enjoy their low-key celebrations on the pitch where they beat England, they first needed to ask the groundstaff to move.

"We actually booted the groundies off the wicket. We said 'righto, our turn!'" Healy laughed.

"They got the last laugh and turned the sprinklers on us to get us off."

Their stay on Hagley Oval was cut short around midnight when the sprinklers came on, forcing the Australian touring party to decamp to their dressing room, but a victory five years in the making was always going to be celebrated in style.

Coach Matthew Mott addressed the team soon after their lap of honour, before they burst into song, hailing their composure throughout Natalie Sciver's second-innings onslaught.

"It's one thing being the most skillful team in the world, but the thing that we love the most about this team is the ability to fight," Mott told his huddle.

"We had a great first half, exceptional first half – the flexibility in our batting, the communication was everything that we asked for, (it was) selfless and team first.

"It would have been easy to get carried away but looking at everyone in the eyes today and there was absolutely no way that we go let that happen.

"They threw everything at us in that innings on a great batting wicket, and we know what it feels like to be on the other side of it.

"The resolve, the composure, Meg's captaincy, the bowling changes, the way everyone just stepped up in the right time was absolutely incredible."

Jubilant video calls were made to friends and family back home who were unable to travel to New Zealand for the tournament, then the fun began.

Image Id: E9C620C53DAC4AB8A0ADE3E0B0ECBAE2 Image Caption: Darcie Brown found time to solve a Rubik's Cube // Instagram

South Australians Megan Schutt, Tahlia McGrath and Darcie Brown pulled out ski goggles they had purchased back in November, in hopes of a post-WBBL final celebration with the Adelaide Strikers that never eventuated after their defeat to Perth Scorchers.

"I have to credit my brother for that, he was the mastermind behind that, copying the NBA there … we bought them and had them ready for the Big Bash final and didn't get to use them … but I packed them in my bag January 10th and they came out yesterday," McGrath told cricket.com.au.

"It still hasn't sunk in, winning a World Cup has been something I've been dreaming of for a long time, something I've been envious watching all the other girls win one, so to finally have one of my own now is incredibly special.

"It was cool to sit around as a team on the pitch and enjoy each other's company."

The party ramped up back at the team hotel, where the English players were also staying, several of them popping in for a few.

Healy nominated physio Kate Beerwoth as best reveller for attempting a handstand in the change room.

"That was pretty epic. Kingy (spinner Alana King) was pretty good too, she thoroughly enjoyed herself," Healy said.

Image Id: 51C2FD841AE2419D92B459E274CD7C84 Image Caption: Alana King poses for a selfie with the trophy // Getty

Speaking at lunchtime on Monday, King admitted "minimal" sleep and a keen need "to get some food and some liquids" soon.

Like the men's T20 World Cup winners in Dubai in November, 90s Euro dance anthem 'Freed from Desire' by Gala got a strong run.

"Ash Gardner was definitely BOG. She was playing that desire song, so her DJ'ing, the dance moves, everything about it," King said.

"We had our circuit sunnies on which was a big thing for us. Some people had the snow goggles on.

"We're just living our best lives really ... it's well deserved celebrations to cap off a tremendous tournament."

Gardner said without Katy Perry, the onus was on the team to create the party.

"The vibe is a little bit different down here," she said of the South Island, where any clubs or hotspots were shut due to COVID-19.

Image Id: 56E7E633FFFF496B816CBE851569AE68 Image Caption: Heather Graham (left), Ash Gardner and Nicola Carey share a joke // Getty

"I actually don't think I was best on ground. I went to bed earlier than some others did.

"It's like 50-over cricket to T20 cricket. T20 cricket is such an entertaining game. 50-over cricket is a little bit more pure and traditional and I guess that's flowed over to the celebration side of things."

Antics aside, it was a moment to reflect on what had been achieved across five years of dominance in the one-day format; 40 wins from 42 matches, a 26-game winning streak and finally, the piece of silverware Australia have been hunting since 2017.

Image Id: 89D6C2268BF24D2DAFA7C59E2960B0F5 Image Caption: Meg Lanning gets doused by Beth Mooney as the part began // Getty

For those who experienced the pain of that 2017 semi-final defeat, it was particularly satisfying.

"It is special (winning World Cups), particularly this 50-over one," Lanning said.

"There's a long time between these tournaments, and even longer with COVID, so that makes it very difficult to win and difficult to time your run as well.

"A really important part of World Cups is being able to peak at the right time, which I think we've done really well."

Image Id: ED4517680E5542C4967DC24B1F976C3E Image Caption: Meg Lanning celebrates another World Cup title // Getty

Additional reporting by AAP

ICC Women's Cricket World Cup 2022

Australia squad: Meg Lanning (c), Rachael Haynes (vc), Darcie Brown, Nicola Carey, Ashleigh Gardner, Grace Harris, Alyssa Healy, Jess Jonassen, Alana King, Beth Mooney, Tahlia McGrath, Ellyse Perry, Megan Schutt, Annabel Sutherland, Amanda-Jade Wellington. Travelling reserves: Heather Graham, Georgia Redmayne

Mar 5: Beat England by 12 runs

Mar 8: Beat Pakistan by seven wickets

Mar 13: Beat New Zealand by 141 runs

Mar 15: Beat West Indies by seven wickets

Mar 19: Beat India by six wickets

Mar 22: Beat South Africa by five wickets

Mar 25: Beat Bangladesh by five wickets

Semi-finals

Mar 30: Australia beat West Indies by 157 runs

Mar 31: England beat South Africa by 137 runs

Final

Apr 3: Australia beat England by 71 runs