In Pics: WTC winners New Zealand reach home with ICC Mace

New Zealand cricketers reached home from England after winning the World Test Championship (WTC) final but with social distancing norms in place, their walk through the airport and to hotel, where players will quarantine for 14 days, was devoid of hugs, handshakes from airport staff and others who wanted to catch a glimpse of the mace.

"Everything is social distanced, so you can't even really shake their hands, and we had the mace, everyone wanted to take a photo, you can't even do that, or we couldn't pass it on," pace bowler Neil Wagner told media via zoom later.

"It's a bit of a shame... It was quite nice to see some Kiwis walk past and see what it means to them, albeit in the distance waving away, and saying congratulations, it means a lot to all the boys."

For a nation of just five million people, an International Cricket Council (ICC) tournament has come their way very rarely. The last and only ICC trophy they won was ICC Knockouts, a precursor to Champions Trophy, back in 2000.

The eight-wicket win at Southampton against a strong and star-studded India, therefore, was special and got them rousing reception at the airport.