With Australia chasing a world record 433 on the final day of the 4th Test against India, who had utterly plundered the Australian bowling attack for 4 days, the Aussies still looked half a chance thanks to some decent top order partnerships in the final innings, only to be left at 3/170 thanks to some quick wickets as India chased a historic first series victory in Australia (Which would come 15 years later)...
However, in front of a raucous home crowd at the SCG, out to the crease for the last time strode the Australian captain, Steve Roger Tugga Waugh, originally to bat alongside his successor Ricky Ponting, the last dig of a summer which had been the world's longest royal tour around Australia, and very nearly ended prematurely when Waugh retired hurt due to a blow to the arm at the MCG a week earlier.
Up for one last trademark fight during the final session of play, Waugh originally batted with Ponting before Pointing was dismissed just before Tea, then made a lasting final session partnership of 142 with Simon Katich to confirm Australia's safety from defeat, with Tugga scoring his 50th half century in Test cricket, joining Allan Border as the second player to make a half century of half centuries in Test cricket.
However, with a fairtyale 33rd Test century in sight, Waugh would go for one last trademark slog sweep off Anil Kumble, only to be caught in the deep by player of the match Sachin Tendulkar, the player who would later overtake Waugh's record of 168 Test matches, which was later matched by Ponting as the most by an Australian player.
Australia finished on 6/357, 86 short of the target, with Waugh's 80 leading the scorers (Katich was unbeaten on 77) as the match finished in a draw.
It was the highest 4th Innings score of Waugh's career, and his highest score of that summer.
Still, Sachin didn't forget Waugh when he gave his speech for POTM:
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