Even the one and a half-hour's flight delay due to inclement weather could not dampen their spirit and it was not difficult to understand why.

"In the past, we have returned home with not too many positives but this England tour has been different. If we consider the opponents and the condition, this was Bangladesh's best tour especially because of our performance in the one day series," said former captain Khaled Mahmud who spoke to the press at the VIP lounge of Zia International Airport in the absence of coach Dav Whatmore, captain Habibul Bashar and vice-captain Khaled Mashud.

"When you are coming home with a victory against a team like Australia everything feels good. I am not the right man to comment on the Test series because I was not there but I must say we have played a memorable one-day series and created an impression in world cricket," said the veteran all-rounder who added that his goal was to play in the 2007 World Cup in the West Indies.

Teenaged left-handed opener Shahriar Nafees Ahmed, who impressed with his doggedness and level-headed approach in his first tour with the senior side, best illustrated the buzz around the young side at the Zia International Airport.

"Cricket is my profession and that's why the question of fatigue or tiredness does not arise. Just look at Australia. They are scheduled to stay in England for three and half a months. That's the life of a professional cricketer," said Nafees when he was asked whether it would be difficult for him to motivate himself for a return to England with the Bangladesh A team in less than two weeks time.

Despite the joy of beating the world's number one team and overall good showing in the tri-series, the players refused to forget the miserable experience from the Test series against England where they lost both matches in just over two days.

"It was always going to be difficult in May-June which is not an ideal time to play cricket in England. If our tour was in July-August, we would have definitely fared better," said Bangladesh's hero in the one day series Mohammad Ashraful. The 20-year-old added that his performance also cleared some doubts at the home front.

"My mother is not a very technical person and she thought that I was struggling in the Test series because the bowlers were bigger and taller than me. Now she realises that her son can also stand tall in his own way."

Parents and family members of the players flocked the airport to receive them. Also there to greet the Tigers was State Minister for Youth and Sports Fazlur Rahman and some Bangladesh Cricket Board officials.

The Bangladesh squad returned home without their inspirational coach Whatmore who is mourning the loss of his father in Australia. Captain Bashar, wicketkeeper Mashud and opener Javed Omar were enjoying some rare time off in the United States and Europe.

The senior trio are expected to return on July 14 while Whatmore is likely to join after a couple of weeks.