Dravid hits 34th Test century; equals Gavaskar, Lara | Highlights

Resham Ahmed July 31, 2011 0

Dravid hits 34th Test century; equals Gavaskar, Lara | Highlights

NOTTINGHAM: Rahul Dravid, called otherwise “The Wall”, hit his 34^th Test century on Saturday to save the day for India on second day of the second Test match against England at Trent Bridge.

Rahul Dravid

The during his 117-run innings has helped The Wall join greats of the game like Sunil Gavaskar and Brian Charles Lara with 34 centuries each to their names.

Talking to reporters after yet another face-saving innings for his country, Rahul Dravid regarded his 34^th Test ton as his best in Test career but said he still didn’t regard him as the player of same class of Sunil Gavaskar.

Rahul Dravid. Courtesy: Getty Images

Dravid, 38, spent 370 minutes at the crease to score another important century that helped India to take 67 runs lead in the first innings over England.

Dravid is now only behind his teammate Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar, South African all-rounder Jacques Kallis, and former Australian captain Ricky Ponting in scoring most number of Test centuries.

Rahul Dravid. Courtesy: Getty Images

Dravid told reporters, “It’s great to share something with the legend, though I don’t compare myself with Mr Gavaskar. I think he is an absolute legend of the game. I grew up as a kid in a generation when Gavaskar and Viswanath were big heroes for us and in all my games of backyard cricket I would be either a Gavaskar or a (Gundappa) Viswanath. So for me to equal something that he has done is truly fantastic.”

Rahul Dravid. Courtesy: Getty Images

Talking about his century, Dravid said, “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. As long as I was there I was determined to try and make it count and keep fighting away.”

Rahul Dravid. Courtesy: AP PHOTO

Dravid has now struck three centuries in the last five weeks as he scored 112 runs against West Indies at Jamaica last month and hit an unbeaten 103 runs at Lord’s in the first Test match of the ongoing series.