Steve Waugh immortalized in bronze at SCG

SYDNEY - A sculpture of Australia’s most successful captain, Steve Waugh, was unveiled as the 10th and final in a series of sporting icons at the SCG 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, The Age reports.

The statue also features Waugh’s famous red rag which he used to wipe perspiration during play and which inspired thousands of fans to wave replicas that day in support of their struggling hero.

“That was probably the most pleasing moment of my career,” Waugh said.

“There were about 30,000 people at the ground but probably 100,000 people have told me they were there.

“One guy told me he was at the country races in Victoria and they put the horses in the barriers, but pulled them out when I got to 98 and held them till I got the hundred. That sums up Australians.”

Waugh, who won 41 of his 57 Tests as captain at an amazing success rate of 72 per cent, said the positioning of the statue, between the change rooms and the practice nets, was also significant.

“It’s on the path to where all the hard work is done,” he said.

Waugh said it was surreal to see a statue of himself at his home ground.

“I fell in love with this ground the moment I first walked through the turnstiles 37 years ago as a seven-year-old with my coach and teammates from Panania East Hills under 10s,” he said.

“Normally you are no longer on earth when you are immortalised.” (ANI)