With the series safely secured the Proteas and Australia head to the Sydney Cricket Ground for the final Test match of the 2008-09 series down under. In what was already a highly dramatic and exciting series, concluded with a touch of courage and bravery by the South African skipper Graeme Smith.

After the Aussies posted 445 in their first innings, Smith broke his hand after being struck by paceman Mitchell Johnson, forcing the opening batsman to retire hurt.

The Proteas could only managed 327 while batting with a man less before Australia set them a target of 376 for victory.

With Smith unable to open the batting alongside Neil McKenzie, the Proteas tried to salvage a draw from the match on the final fay of the encounter.

With Australia edging closer to victory, tailenders Dale Steyn and Makhaya Ntini offered strong resistance with a 50-run stand.

That was until Steyn departed and what many thought might have been the end of the game at that stage resulted in spine tingling moment as the whole SCG crowd rose to their feet when pictures emerged from the South African dressing room that Smith was on his way out to the middle to try and get his team home.

With less than 10 overs remaining in the day it was up to Ntini and Smith to fight it out, despite the latter batting with a broken left-hand.

Smith would go on to frustrate the Australian bowlers until the very end but Johnson would have the final say when he knocked over Smith’s stumps with only 11 balls remaining, handing Australia a 103-run victory.

Despite losing the Test match, Smith was lauded, not only for his bravery at the SCG, but also for captaining the South African Test team to a first win in Australia.