Waugh ensures place in history

STEVE WAUGH ensured his entry into Australian cricket folklore with an outstanding century to bring up yet another milestone in his illustrious career and to ensure the final Test against England remains firmly in the balance.

With speculation mounting that this could be his final Test on his home ground and the selectors refusing to guarantee him a place after this match, the scene was set for some sort of response from one of the outstanding cricketers of his generation.

But even Waugh, hero of more than one Australian triumph since making his debut 17 years ago, could not have forecast such a fairytale finish to a compelling second day of the final Ashes Test at the SCG.

The situation could not have been better for a player who has always thrived on challenges with Australia reeling on 56 for three in reply to the tourists' 362 and he reacted in flamboyant fashion to reach his 29th Test century - equalling the record held by Sir Donald Bradman off the final ball of the day having guided his side to a more respectable 237 for five.

He also became only the third man in history, following giants like Sunil Gavaskar and Allan Border, to reach 10,000 Test runs when he drove Richard Dawson to reach 69 and repeated the shot off the same bowler from the final delivery of the day to earn an even bigger reception from both the crowd and the England team when he reached three figures.

His innings and his pursuit of those landmarks was such a focus of the day that instead of becoming subdued by Australia's perilous situation once Andrew Caddick had claimed three wickets inside the first 12 overs of their reply, they became more and more excitable as the arrival of Waugh became ever closer. From the very start of his innings he was aggressive, , dominating a 90-run partnership with Damien Martyn.

England's hopes of strengthening their advantage were halted by the skilful and flamboyant innings from Waugh, who firmly stamped his authority onto the series and Australian cricket history with his perfectly-timed intervention.