The 37-year-old bowed out at the top as Australia won their third consecutive World Cup with McGrath the player of the tournament with 22 wickets.

The victorious squad were welcomed by thousands of fans in Sydney on Thursday and McGrath said: "I haven't had much time to reflect after 14 years or so.

"I've been lucky to be in an era of Australian cricket that is so strong."

He added: "You look around at your team mates, and you think, 'Every one of these guys is big game player'.

"Being around this group of guys has been sensational, and heading to a World Cup is always special anyway, but this being my last, I was just determined to enjoy and love every minute of it, and I did."

McGrath announced he was retiring during the Ashes series, in which Australia trounced England 5-0. And he ended his career with 563 Test wickets, a record for a fast bowler, 381 one-day scalps and a triple World Cup winner.

Australia Prime Minister John Howard welcomed the team back from the Caribbean at a breakfast reception.

He said: "The wonderful Glenn McGrath ... really has been an ornament to Australian cricket for many years.

"He is the greatest fast bowler of his generation and many would say he ranks with the very greatest that the game has seen.

"You'd have to rank him with (Dennis) Lillee and (Ray) Lindwall as the three great fast bowlers this country's produced. He's been terrific."