Ashes
'Bronzed' Waugh unveiled
2011-01-05 08:29
Sydney - Former Australian skipper Steve Waugh was immortalised in a bronze sculpture unveiled during the final Ashes Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Wednesday.
Waugh is shown holding aloft his bat and baggy cap in celebration of his 29th and perhaps most famous Test century, which he completed off the final ball of a day's play against England at the ground in 2003.
"That was probably the most pleasing moment of my career," Waugh said after the unveiling.
"There were about 30 000 people at the ground that day, but probably 100 000 people have told me they were there.
"That hundred was as much the supporters' as it was mine because it came at a tough time."
Waugh, 45, who won 41 of his 57 Tests as captain at a success rate of 72 percent, said the positioning of the statue, between the changing rooms and the practice nets at the SCG, was also significant.
"It's on the path to where all the hard work is done," he said.
"That sums up what I was all about -- hard work, making the most of my opportunities and really enjoying playing for New South Wales and Australia."
Waugh played an Australian record 168 Tests and scored 10,927 runs. Only Ricky Ponting and Allan Border have scored more runs for Australia.