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SYDNEY (Australia): Steve Waugh's dismissal has robbed an expectant cricket nation of a fairy-tale finish to the Australian great's playing career.

The Sydney Cricket Ground faithful rose as one to salute the 38-year-old Test skipper's walk to the crease in Australia's first innings and to will on his every run over the ensuing 90 minutes.

Waugh received a standing ovation from the 27,056 crowd at his home ground, with fans chanting “Steve Waugh, Steve Waugh!” during the post-match presentations. It was a record crowd for a fifth day at the Sydney Cricket Ground and the 189,989 crowd over five days was record for the stadium in the modern era.

“To get a draw was a great achievement over a tough five days,” said Waugh, who was the most successful captain in test history with 41 wins from 57 matches. “It was a tough series played in good spirit.

“I don’t know if this is a sad moment or not. I feel happy. I’ve achieved a lot in this game. The way the guys play the game, it has been an honor to captain this Australian side.”

Just when the 168-Test warhorse looked to have played his way in with Australia calling on all of his trademark resilience and determination, unheralded 19-year-old paceman Irfan Pathan struck.

Pathan, playing in only his second Test match, got one to leave Waugh off the pitch with the last ball of his 11th over and coax an edge that was gleefully snapped up by 18-year-old wicketkeeper Parthiv Patel.

After a moment to take it all in, the disbelieving crowd issued a collective groan at the realisation that their cricketing hero was on his way for 40.

While Waugh was at the crease, a fairy-tale was still in the offing given the captain's relish for fighting apparently lost causes.

But he is likely to get a second chance in this match, probably sometime on on Monday as Australia try to prevent India from claiming their first-ever series win in Australia.

Century-maker Justin Langer said Waugh had reminded the team before the day's play of the value of fighting for a draw.

"One thing Tugga (Waugh) said this morning was that when he took over the captaincy five years ago, one of the areas he wanted us to improve ... was to fight out hard draws," Langer said after Sunday's play.

Langer said Australia would be trying to bat for as long as possible and that there was the possibility of Waugh having to play a match-saving innings.

"It would nice for him to play one of his characteristic hero innings to put us in a position to win or fight out one of those draws he's been talking about."

Waugh also has the respect of his Indian opponents, and long-time rival Anil Kumble said the Australian captain deserved all the attention he was receiving in his farewell series.

"I think he is a great player and he deserves the kind of public response and respect that he has from the opposition and I have tremendous respect for Steve," Kumble said.

"It's a great reception that he received and the support he has had in this Test match and throughout the series has been exciting.

"It's another match and you have to get his wicket, that's the aim, and I don't think there was any emotions from our end."

Waugh has now scored 10,847 runs in 259 Test innings at 50.92 and is the second highest Test run-maker of all time behind only compatriot Allan Border (11,174).