The stage was set and the legend delivered.

Under pressure to save his career Steve Waugh on Friday scored a historic century with a four off the final ball of the day's play.

Waugh raised both arms in the air in triumph and ran down the pitch to a rapturous response from a packed Sydney Cricket Ground after reaching 102 not out, equalling Don Bradman's Australian record of 29 Test centuries.

The hundred helped his team fight back against a resurgent England in the fifth Ashes Test, and along the way he joined Allan Border (11,174) and India's Sunil Gavaskar (10,122) as the only batsmen to have scored 10,000 Test runs.

After weeks of conjecture about his playing future beyond this Ashes series, Waugh strode to the crease to a thunderous ovation from a capacity crowd of 41,931 at the SCG with Australia 3-56 shortly before tea.

But Waugh took control in a blazing final session, reaching 95 with one over to go.

With the cry of "Steve Waugh, Steve Waugh" echoing around the famous ground, the 37-year-old needed two runs from the final ball to match Bradman. There was chanting and cheering and screaming, then booing when England captain Nasser Hussain - grinning broadly - played the villain by taking more than a minute to set his field.

Waugh then hit offspinner Richard Dawson through extra cover and the moment was his.

Witnessed by millions live on television as the Nine Network delayed the news and other programs to stay with the cricket, Waugh's performance drew an immediate response from Prime Minister John Howard.

"It was a fairytale day for Australian cricket, for Steve and for his family," Mr Howard said.

"I know that millions of cricket lovers around Australia would share my feelings."

Waugh faced 130 balls in a 176-minute stay - including a barrage of 18 boundaries that made a mockery of calls for his sacking.

Australia remained in a spot of bother however, finishing day two on 5-237 in reply to England's first innings of 362, but suddenly that didn't matter.

Waugh has forged a reputation on saving his side from urgent situations and he emerged at 3-56 like a man on a mission, swinging his arms, preparing for battle.

A banner proclaimed "We Believe In Steve". When the din died, his innings began. England fast bowler Stephen 'Grievous Bodily' Harmison delivered an over full of short balls and Waugh ignored them.

Tension filled the air.

He sent the seventh ball he faced, from fast bowler Matthew Hoggard, to the boundary at square leg. He slashed at an outswinger that flew past John Crawley at point and found the rope. Two fours in two balls. Maybe this would be his day.

His defence looked tight. He was finding the middle. He was nine not out at tea. People rubbed their hands together, moved to the edge of their seats. An interesting afternoon lay ahead, no matter the outcome.

He slashed Andy Caddick for four over slips, a calculated gamble in the absence of a third man. An appeal for LBW was correctly rejected. Only a brave umpire would have raised his finger. He reached 13 - an unlucky number. He reached 14. Three consecutive fours from Caddick. Two from Hoggard. The 37-year-old moved to 39.

The crowd fell silent.

Waugh swayed back and dispatched Caddick through extra cover for a crisp boundary that brought up the 47th half-century of his 156-Test career. The people rose to their feet and he raised his bat. History beckoned. He needed 69 runs for 10,000.

On 65, Dawson dropped one short and Waugh cut and again he found the boundary. Again he raised his bat, and again there was a standing ovation. Every English player applauded except the one chasing the ball. Waugh wiped sweat from his forehead with his lucky red handkerchief.

Two streakers ran on the field but they stayed away from Waugh. In this mood, he was untouchable.

A slashing cover drive took him to 87 - the devil's number. He reached 95 with one over to spare. He blocked the first three balls of Dawson's over and there was a rush of disappointment. He wasn't quite going to get there. He scored three through the offside. Two balls remaining.

His playing partner Adam Gilchrist, who finished 45 not out from 46 balls, hit a single to set up the finale.

There was a collective gasp as Dawson skipped in and a sheer, unbridled cacophony when Waugh hit his boundary. England fielders rushed to him to offer their congratulations and hand shakes. Every single person in the ground was on their feet.

It was reminiscent of Doug Walters hitting a hundred in a session against England at WACA almost 30 years ago.

Earlier, Alec Stewart made a free-flowing 71 from 86 balls to steer England to its respectable total, following Mark Butcher's 124 on Thursday.

Australia lost Matthew Hayden for 15 when he missed a full toss from Andy Caddick and was trapped LBW.

Captain-in-waiting Ricky Ponting scurried to seven from six balls before he tickled an edge behind from Caddick, then Justin Langer (25) skied a hook to Hoggard at backward square leg from the same bowler.

Waugh and a scratchy Damien Martyn (26) put together a 90-run partnership before Martin Love came to the crease, played a lose stroke and was caught at first slip for a duck.

The most frequently asked question by Waugh's supporters recently had been this: If Australia was 3-50 chasing a big total, who would you want to have going in to bat?

The answer is still Steve Waugh.

He might just play forever.

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