As Steve Waugh left the arena for the last time as a Test cricketer he feared he'd left his team in the lurch.

Waugh, having made 80, left to a standing ovation from a crowd which included an enthusiastic Prime Minister. He took handshakes from his rivals and was greeted at the boundary by his team-mates but brushed most aside as he knew the job wasn't done.

Waugh, in having a dash at what would have been a magical century in his last match, was caught on the boundary by Sachin Tendulkar off the bowling of Anil Kumble.

It left India with five overs to get five wickets and, when Adam Gilchrist was accidentally stumped courtesy of a fumble by wicketkeeper Parthiv Patel, India needed four wickets in four overs.

Luckily for Waugh, lion-hearted Jason Gillespie and rising star Simon Katich saw out the final 25 balls as Australia finished on 6-357 in pursuit of 443.

"When I got out it put the team in a bit of jeopardy," Waugh admitted.

"I was looking to get a couple of twos in that over but for some reason I went for a big six which just shows that after 168 Tests you can still lose the plot under pressure.

"I was certainly worried after Gilly got out - if we'd lost the Test match I wouldn't have been that pleased with myself."

As it was, Waugh exited Test cricket a hero, having guided Australia to sanctuary as India pressed for an historic first series win here.

Australia maintains its proud record of not losing a home series since 1992-93 against the West Indies.

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