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Dravid goes past Azharuddin

By Mohandas Menon

Rahul Dravid, when on 12 during the course of his match-winning unbeaten 72, went past Mohd. Azharuddin's aggregate of 6215. He climbed to the fourth position among the Indian batsman with Sunil Gavaskar (10,122), Sachin Tendulkar (8920) and Dilip Vengsarkar (6868) scoring more. Dravid has made 6276 runs in 73 Tests.

Tendulkar, when on 18, moved past England's Graham Gooch tally of 8900 runs. Tendulkar (8920) only has Australia's Allan Border (11,174) and Steve Waugh (10,788), and Gavaskar (10,122) above him.

Dravid, with 305 runs in this Test, became the third Indian to make 300-plus in a Test. Gavaskar (344 v WI at Port of Spain, April 1971) and V.V.S. Laxman (340 v Australia at Kolkata, March 2001) are the others. In Australia, India's best aggregate was 261 (116+145) by Vijay Hazare at this ground in January 1948.

It was Sourav Ganguly's 14th Test win in 35 matches as captain, equalling Azharuddin's record which came in 47 Tests. Ganguly's third win against the Aussies in five matches is matched only by Gavaskar's three victories in nine games.

It was Steve Waugh's ninth defeat against India in 55 Tests as skipper. West Indian Brian Lara (eight games) and Ganguly (five) are the only two captains to inflict three defeats on Waugh's team. Australia's last defeat (by 106 runs) at this ground was against England in January 1995.

India defeated Australia for the third time in four Tests, winning the Tests at Kolkata, Chennai and Adelaide and drawing the Brisbane game.

India became the fourth team to beat Australia at home while chasing a target of more than 200. England had achieved it five times, West Indies twice and South Africa and India once each.

Australia's first innings total of 556 was the third highest for a losing side. The same team's 586 (against England at Sydney in Dec. 1894) and Pakistan's 574 for eight decl. (at Melbourne in Dec. 1972) are the other instances.

Ricky Ponting's 242 was the highest by a losing side batsman eclipsing Kiwi Nathan Astle's 222 against England at Christchurch in March 2002. The previous highest by an Australian was the unbeaten 214 by Victor Trumper at this ground in Jan. 1911.

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