ICONIC SCG MOMENTS

NUMBER 2 CLARKE PUTS INDIA IN A SPIN, 2008

Australia entered the final day looking to bowl India out. But the visitors were resolute, and looked set to snatch an unlikely draw.

Then, in the second-last over, and needing three wickets, Ricky Ponting threw part-time spinner Michael Clarke the ball. Clarke had never claimed a Test wicket in Australia. But his first ball saw Harbhajan Singh edge to slips. The second got RP Singh for a golden duck LBW. Ishant Sharma was next in – but he’d brought out two right-hand gloves! It might have been a time-wasting tactic, it might have been the pressure.

Clarke was on a hat-trick - the ball struck Sharma’s pads. Not out. Sharma got his bat to the next ball. No run. Then the SCG exploded when Sharma edged his third ball to Mike Hussey at slip – with just 10 minutes remaining.

NUMBER N 1 WAUGH’S LAST-BALL TON, 2003

Steve Waugh’s career was on the brink in the 2002-03 Ashes – and he knew it. Selectors had told the 38-year-old that he needed to lift his game or else lose his spot. The Ashes had been won, the series wrapped up 3-0. All eyes were on Waugh. When he walked out to bat, 41,931 fans – then the second-largest crowd the SCG had ever hosted – stood and cheered.

The Aussies were 3-56 after England’s 362. But Waugh dispatched each bowler with ease. He took his total to 69 – and his career Test total to 10,000 runs. Waugh needed five runs off the last over to reach his century. Richard Dawson skipped in to bowl. Dot. Dot. Dot. Then a drive for three runs. Adam Gilchrist jabbed a single. The moment had arrived. Dawson launched a quicker ball outside off. Waugh’s blade sending the ball racing through extra cover to the boundary. 102 not out. His 29th ton.