30 December,2011 07:31 AM IST | | Sai Mohan
Under the Southern Cross I Stand,
A sprig of wattle in my hand,
A native of my native land,
Australia you f'''''' beauty
It's a ritual that very few have actually seen. Australian players perform the victory song usually at the end of a series victory or a Test match, but it's done privately -- either at a dressing room or the hotel.
Australia players celebrate after defeating India by 122 runs in the first
Test at Melbourne yesterday. Pic/ Getty Images
But yesterday's victory against India obviously meant a lot more. Close to 90 minutes after the presentation ceremony, Australia's players walked out to the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) to perform the song.
At the end of it, they were drenched in beer and hugged each other in a very touching moment. It was pleasant to see the players bonding, could be the sight of a new era in Australian cricket.
Fittingly, man-of-the- match James Pattinson was at the centre of the huddle and had the maximum beer sprayed on. Even coaches Mickey Arthur and Craig McDermott got into the act.
