Stephen Rodger Waugh became only the third player in history to score 10,000 Test runs on Friday, January 3, 2003.

And if pursuing Sunil Gavaskar and Allan Border to the landmark was not enough, Waugh then hit his 29th Test century by driving the last ball of the day to the fence, equalling the record set by Sir Don Bradman.

In what may be his penultimate Test innings, Waugh proved that true character outdoes talent any day.

Three months ago in Colombo when Waugh was asked about his chances of making it back to the Australian one-day side he replied, "Pete Sampras just won the US Open, didn't he?"

Waugh has not been chosen in the Australian World Cup team, but his reply epitomised his never-say-die-spirit.

Congratulate him on crossing 10,000 runs and equalling the Don's record.