Botham lauds 'greatest advert for game'

Ian Botham paid tribute Steve Waugh's performance in defying the odds to score a landmark century yesterday, describing the Australian captain's achievement as "the greatest advertisement for cricket".

Waugh hit 18 boundaries on the way to 102 not out, becoming only the third player in history to pass 10,000 Test runs. His century, which he reached with a boundary off the final ball of the day, also equalled the number of Test hundreds by Sir Don Bradman.

Waugh, whose Test future has been the subject of fevered speculation had gone to the crease to a standing ovation but with his side in trouble at 56 for 3, chasing England's first-innings total of 362 on the second day of the final Ashes Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

The former England all-rounder Botham said: "It has been absolutely compelling. You did not want to leave your seat. It was full of drama, fairy-tale stuff. Steve Waugh came to the crease with his side in trouble and it was tailor-made for him. He was under pressure, backs-to-the-wall stuff and what does he do?

"He has refused to make any verbal comment on his future and I think he was always going to do his talking with his bat in the middle. He thought: 'This is the time for me to go out there and perform'.

"He got a standing ovation when he came out to bat, the place absolutely erupted when he got his 50, then again when he passed 10,000 runs and again when he got his century off the last ball of the day.

"It was the greatest advertisement for cricket," declared Botham.

Despite Waugh's exploits, Botham believes England are in a good position to record their first victory of the Test series. "England are, without any doubt, still very much in the driving seat," he said. "One more wicket and you have the tail. I think England can go on and win the game, but today was Steve Waugh's day."

Bradman's son, John, also paid tribute to Waugh. "My dad watched Steve's career with great admiration," he said. "I know he would want me to congratulate him on this wonderful achievement."

The Australian Prime Minister, John Howard, was among the spectators at the ground who witnessed Waugh's performance. "It was a fairy-tale day for Australian cricket, for Steve and for his family," said Howard. "I congratulated him personally on a magnificent innings and I know that millions of cricket lovers around Australia would share my feelings."