Australia's world champions to receive commemorative rings

Cricket Australia today announced that the 16 members of Australia's 2003 World Cup winning squad will be presented with commemorative rings at a private dinner in Perth tonight.

Embedded with the World Cup logo, final date and the player's individual one-day international number, the commemorative rings will serve as a lifelong reminder of the team's outstanding success.

Tonight's function will mark the first time the players have gathered officially to celebrate their World Cup triumph.

Cricket Australia Chairman Bob Merriman, who will make the individual presentations, said the function will acknowledge the side's inner strength and character.

"Tonight's dinner and presentation not only celebrates the playing success of the team, but is a tribute to their character and inner team strength, which allowed them to overcome a range of difficulties both on and off the field without losing sight of their broader objectives," Mr Merriman said.

"The celebration has become part of Australian cricket culture and this team has placed itself clearly in the annals of Australian cricket history."

All players available for selection from Australia's first match of the tournament (11 February 2003) to the final against India (23 March 2003), were eligible to receive a commemorative ring.