Dravid pleased to share record with boyhood hero

NOTTINGHAM, England, (Reuters) – India’s Rahul  Dravid said yesterday it was “truly fantastic” to join  compatriot Sunil Gavaskar on 34 test hundreds but added he did  not believe he was in the same league as the former opener.

THE WALL! Rahul Dravid played his typical rock solid innings on his way to scoring his 34th test century.

Dravid left the ball expertly and clinically punished  anything wayward in compiling 117 against a strong England  attack that helped give India a first innings advantage in the  second test at Trent Bridge.

He later called the 370-minute effort one of his best  hundreds and the added significance of the milestone made it all  the more special for the 38-year-old.

“It’s great to share something with the legend, though I  don’t compare myself with Mr Gavaskar,” Dravid told reporters.  “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.” He also joined West Indies’ Brian Lara, record  holder for the highest test and first class scores, on 34  centuries.

Only team mate Sachin Tendulkar, South Africa’s Jacques  Kallis and Australian Ricky Ponting have scored more test  centuries than the Bangalore-born Dravid.

Dravid was fully aware of the importance of his latest  effort as England seek to claim India’s world number one  ranking.

“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, who overcame a painful blow to his arm and cramps,  has now made three test centuries in five weeks following 112 in  Jamaica last month and an unbeaten 103 at Lord’s in the first  test.

Another reason he was pleased with the century at Nottingham  was the fact that he was deputising as an opener for the injured  Gautam Gambhir instead of batting in his usual number three  position.

“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.”