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India’s Rahul Dravid insisted he was “not in the same league” as compatriot Sunil Gavaskar after joining the former opener on 34 Test hundreds.
Dravid, in a masterclass of both concentration and stylish shot-making, made 117 against a powerful England attack to help propel India into a first innings lead on the second day of the second Test at Trent Bridge on Saturday.
Nicknamed ‘The Wall’ for his immense powers of application, Dravid batted for over six hours and struck 15 fours before uppercutting seamer Tim Bresnan straight to Alastair Cook on the third man boundary.
“It’s great to share something with the legend, though I don’t compare myself with Mr Gavaskar,” Dravid told reporters after stumps. “I think he is an absolute legend of the game.
“I grew up as a kid in a generation when Gavaskar and (Gundappa) Viswanath were big heroes for us and in all my games of backyard cricket I would be either a Gavaskar or a Viswanath,” explained the Bangalore-born 38-year-old.
“So for me to equal something that he has done is truly fantastic.”
Dravid’s innings also saw him draw level with retired West Indies’ star Brian Lara, the record holder for both the highest Test and first-class scores, on 34 Test hundreds.
Only India team-mate Sachin Tendulkar (51), South Africa’s Jacques Kallis (40) and Australia’s Ricky Ponting (39) have now scored more Test centuries than Dravid.
His latest effort was especially timely as it kept England, who will replace India at the top of the ICC’s Test Championship table if they win this four-match series 2-0 or better, at bay.
“It was quite satisfying as this was a tough wicket to play on, it was a good quality bowling attack and the ball swung for the whole day,” Dravid said.
“As long as I was there I was determined to try and make it count and keep fighting away.”
Dravid, whose place in the side was called into question following a poor tour of South Africa earlier this year, has now scored three Test hundreds in a matter of five weeks following 112 against the West Indies in Jamaica last month and 103 not out against England in the first Test of this series.
This latest century was especially satisfying for Dravid as he was batting out of position as an opener in place of the injured Gautam Gambhir rather than in his favoured number three berth.
“I have opened the batting a few times before and I have felt rushed, it’s very different to batting one or two down where I have played for most of my life,” Dravid said. “You have some time to calm yourself in the middle-order.”
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