Published: Jan 06, 2015, 07:21 PM (IST)
Edited: Jan 23, 2015, 10:48 AM (IST)
On this day, 11 years back, when Steve Waugh walked out to bat for the final time in international cricket, defeat was still a possibility. He was the leader of the bunch, who were world-beaters and a defeat now would see Australia lose a home-series against an Indian side that had dominated the final Test and had their tails up.
A draw wasn’t a fitting end to a man who settled for nothing less than a win but on this day, the series was at stake. Neither did he possess the natural ability of a Sachin Tendulkar or the grace of Brian Lara, but a warrior at the crease, Waugh was among the best of his generation.
Gritty as ever, he walked out and sped away to another fighting knock of 80. By the time he was caught in the deep by Tendulkar off the bowling of Anil Kumble, he had done enough to save the Test for his side.
In the above photograph we see Waugh receiving a lap of honour from his team-mates. He is carried on the shoulders of his teammates. These were emotional scenes as Waugh, who made his debut on the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne in 1985 as a 20-year-old all-rounder, bid farewell to international cricket at his home ground in Sydney, as one of game’s most prolific batsmen and the country’s greatest captain.
Even the touring Indians congratulated the Australian champion. Indian captain Sourav Ganguly, who had some memorable tiffs with Waugh, too paid rich complements in the post match ceremony, as he said, “Lot of cricketers including me have looked up to you for your attitude and I wish you good luck and your family.”
Waugh retired with 168 Test (most played at that time), scoring 10927 runs, with an average of 51.06.
