STEVE Waugh was only six wickets away from conquering what he had famously dubbed “the final frontier” when he let loose the single most regrettable sledge of his career.

Waugh’s Australia arrived in India having won its past five Test series and its past 15 matches.

That streak looked likely to extend to six and 17 after they drubbed India in Mumbai and inevitable once they enforced the follow-on in Kolkata with a first-innings lead of 274.

Aiding Australia’s cause was the poor form of Indian linchpin Rahul Dravid, who had posted scores of 9 and 39 at Mumbai before falling for 25 as the hosts were rolled for 171 in the first innings in Kolkata.

It was a rut that triggered a massive rejig for India in the second innings, with Dravid dropping down from first drop to No. 6, with VVS Laxman rocketing up three positions to No.3.

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So when Dravid came out to bat with India in trouble at 4-232, still 42 runs away from forcing Australia to bat again, Waugh sniffed a sledging opportunity he could not resist.

“In the second innings, when I walked in, Steve Waugh said, ‘Rahul, number six in this innings, what is it in the next innings? Number 12?” Dravid said at the Go Sports Athletes’ conclave in Bengaluru.

“In the first three days of the Test match, we were sort of completely beaten. Personally as well, my form was not good. I hadn’t scored runs in Mumbai. I hadn’t hit runs in the first innings. In fact, I was demoted to number six in the batting order.”

Dravid went on to play one of the finest innings of his careers, scoring 180 and putting on an iconic 376-run stand with Laxman (281). It was a partnership that spanned 104.1 overs, and began on day three and ended on day five.

Camera Icon VVS Laxman and Rahul Dravid (right) walk off after batting an entire day against Australia. Credit: AP

By the end of it India was in a matchwinning position and the only Australians who hadn’t bowled were wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist and Waugh himself.

How much the sledge motivated Dravid — who was eventually run out by Waugh — only he knows. The real secret to the all-time great’s all-time great innings may have been something much simpler.

“It was quite funny because I had reached the depths, I felt so low. I was not in a position to think about the past or about the future. And in cricket, it is just about focusing on one ball at a time.

“I thought ‘let me see how many one-balls I can play at a time.’ I was thinking ‘one more, one more.’”

India went on to declare with a lead of 383 and beat Australia by 171 runs with stumps on the horizon, before securing a two-wicket victory in Chennai to win the series 2-1.

Australia only had to wait three more years to finally conquer that ‘final frontier’ but by then Waugh had already called stumps on his illustrious career.