Melbourne, Nov 26: Indian vice-captain Rahul Dravid today said Steve Waugh's impending retirement would not make him more determined to make his farewell series harder for the Indians as he would have played in the same way whether it was his first or last series. A "bit surprised" by the Australian Test skipper's announcement this morning, Dravid said Waugh's decision would not make the series any "harder or easier" for the visitors.

"Whether it is his first or last Test he would not have played any differently," Dravid said to exemplify the greatness of the Australian batsman.

"It is sad in a way. He was one of my heroes and someone I looked up to in international cricket," Dravid told reporters after captain Sourav Ganguly, visibly upset by his team's performance on the field on the second day of the tour opener, refused to come out of the locker room despite repeated requests. Dravid said, "I've played against Waugh, met him and chatted with him during the course of my career and found him very helpful," said Dravid about the cricketer who has played more Tests (164) than anybody in the game's history and has over 10,000 runs and 32 Test hundreds, the second best in all-time list.

"He is right high up there. He was a terrific professional and a great cricketer. The intensity and commitment he brought to his batting was phenomenal and great to watch," he said. Bureau Report