SK Flashback: Remembering David Boon's last Test Match

The last innings

Not the best of goodbyes

With a handy lead of 185 runs, the Australians were looking to build the lead further in the second innings. Boon came in to bat for the last time in Baggy Green at the fall of skipper Taylor’s wicket and was welcomed to the crease with a thunderous applause.

Incidentally, Boon appeared to edge his very first ball from Chaminda Vaas; but was spared by the umpire. Later, Boon had joked that he could not even match Sir Don Bradman by being out for nought in his last innings. But this respite was short-lived as Vaas eventually got Boon out for 35 runs.

And Boon was gone without having scored heavily in his swan song. Australia declared at 215 runs for six wickets and set the Sri Lankans a target of 401 runs. Despite a century from opening batsman Sanath Jayasuriya and a fifty from Sanjeeva Ranatunga; the Sri Lankans could manage only 252 runs in their second innings. Thus the Australians completed a 3-0 whitewash against the Lankans.

Having already scored runs in both the innings, Steve Waugh shined with the ball too as he accounted for four Sri Lankan wickets and was declared as the man of the match. As a mark of respect to Boon, Steve Waugh presented him with the ball.