Waugh Stories IV
'Hometown Hero'
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Limited Edition of 350 Worldwide
Personally hand signed by: Steve Waugh
Officially Licensed by: Cricket Australia
Authenticated & Certified by:
PricewaterhouseCoopers
Framed Size: 650mm x 485mm
Unframed Size: 550mm x 350mm
Click image for larger view
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Before a ball had even been bowled in the Fifth Ashes Test, Steve was already busy rewriting the record books. As he strode out onto the SCG in his 156th Test match appearance for Australia , he equalled Allan Border's world record Test tally.
Called to the crease earlier than anticipated with his team in trouble at 3/56, Waugh set about doing what he had done countless times before – crafting an innings. As he forged past 69, Steve passed the prolific 10,000 run milestone, becoming only the third player in the history of Test cricket to do so. The crowning glory was yet to come, as the last over of the day approached the crowd could sense something special was about to unfold.
Having reached 95 with only six balls remaining, Waugh patiently blocked the first 3 balls of the final over, waiting for the right opportunity whilst heightening the tension. He managed a further 3 runs off the next delivery taking him to 98, almost cruelly handing Adam Gilchrist the strike. But Gilchrist knew what the 40,266 strong crowd wished for. A quick single handed the strike back to his captain for the final delivery of the day. The stage was set...
English Captain Nasser Hussain and bowler Richard Dawson took what seemed like an eternity setting their field for the final ball, but Waugh remained focused. They were only delaying the inevitable. As soon as the ball left the bat the crowd erupted with an almighty roar and rose as one, as Steve effortlessly found the off-side boundary to notch up his 29th test century and draw level with the great Don Bradman's Australian record. Long after Waugh had left the field to a rapturous standing ovation, many of the loyal locals lingered on at the ground, soaking up the tremendous atmosphere of the occasion. As the sun faded to dusk, chants of “Steve Waugh... Steve Waugh...” echoed around the streets and stands as they celebrated the truly heroic achievements of their ‘Hometown Hero'.
Subsequent Chapters
The other 5 innings selected by Steve as, in his opinion, the most important in his stellar career are as follows (in no particular order):
• 120no v South Africa , Headingley
– 1999 Cricket World Cup
• 157no v England , The Oval 2001
• 200 v West Indies, Kingston 1995
(released as ‘Chapter 1 – The
Kingston Innings')
• 108 & 116 v England , Old Trafford
1997 (released as ‘Chapter 2 – Twin
Tons at Old Trafford')
• 164 & 4 for 26 v South Africa , Adelaide SCG 2003 (released
as ‘Chapter 3 – The Adelaide All-Rounder').
Never before have we released a series on just one athlete... until now!
In a ‘first' for collectors, Steve has personally selected what he believes to be the finest performances of his international representative career – recalled by him for their special significance. There will be six chapters in the Waugh Stories collection – six lithographs limited to just 350 of each.