AP Rahul Dravid brought up his 35th Test hundred on the fourth morning of the fourth Test against England on Sunday.


                                            Somehow Rahul Dravid has found within himself the strength to keep
thegrim depression that has enveloped India on its tour of England from dragging him down.
Whether he has drawn from the pain, allowing the lacerating hurt to stiffen his resolve, or remained immune to its infectious influence, sequestering himself from the contagion, isn't known; he won't let oneither. But while India has crawled from batting disaster to batting disaster, Dravid has had what simply is a singularly outstanding series.

First-rate innings
Forced to open on Saturday evening, like he has been on other occasions this series, the great man completed his third century in four Tests, on Sunday afternoon. By any standard, it was a first-rate innings; given the quality of England's attack, the relative loneliness of his stand, the context of the series, and thedifficulties of the wicket, it was an epic, a masterpiece, a statement of unflinching greatness.
Dravid's 35th Test century — only Sachin Tendulkar, with 51, has more for India — enabled the touring side resist England's push for a series-sweeping win on the fourth day of the fourth Test. England eventually bowled India out for 300 and enforced the follow-on.
Dravid, who had carried his bat with 146, fell, contentiously, in the second innings. India finished on 129 for three, trailing by 162.
India began Sunday on 103 for five, needing a further 289 to avoid the follow-on. M.S. Dhoni stayed with Dravid for 45 minutes before shaving to the keeper a James Anderson out-swinger that moved half a bat's width.
Amit Mishra (43) batted most impressively, using a surprisingly-solid defensive technique and some adventurous, and on occasion skilful, strokeplay to give Dravid the support he so richly deserved.

Magnificent
Dravid was magnificent. Where his centuries at Lord's and at Trent Bridge were characterised by how swiftly and profitably his hands adjusted to the swing, allowing him to score even when out of position, his century here at The Oval was marked by how well his feet and body shifted into position. That the ball didn't swing to the same degree here as it had in the first two Tests allowed this, but it showed the versatility of his batsmanship.
Having persuaded the seamers to bowl straighter by leaving resolutely outside the off-stump, Dravid flipped off his hip and knee with a twitch of the wrist and a turn of the body. His play against GraemeSwann was masterly.
The off-spinner was getting his deliveries to drift (occasionally), establish a grip on the dry, abrasive surface, and turn sharply. Dravid was either right to the pitch, or deep in his crease: from these decisive positions, he could play with or against the break.
Dravid went from 86 to 98 with three fours off the off-spinner in four balls, a slog-sweep, a back-cut, and a worked on-drive. But even when he was gathering singles, his control and intent were just as striking. Deliveries that were exploding off the surface, disturbing the strip's loosened top soil, were calmly defused.

Stunning catch
Mishra, who had smashed Swann for six off the last ball before lunch, fell to a stunning one-handed catch by Ian Bell, metres from the bat in an unconventional position. Gautam Gambhir resisted for an hour and ten minutes before a bouncer had him fending to the slip cordon; there's some talk about Gambhir's tendency not to play unless fully fit, and a discussion isn't without merit, but concussions aren't to be trifled with.
R.P. Singh played a stroke-filled cameo, but neither he nor last-man Sreesanth could assist Dravid to 150. Dravid may as well have requested his scones and tea on the pitch, for he was back on in ten minutes, opening the second innings.
England finally got his wicket, but it wasn't clear cut. Andrew Strauss, on Swann's bidding, reviewed a bat-pad decision — there was no conclusive evidence, at least none from the replays and Hot Spot, to over-rule the ‘not out' verdict, but that's exactly what the third-umpire did.

Classic dismissal
There was no dispute about Swann's dismissal of Virender Sehwag, which was a classic off-spinner's wicket. The opener had batted with a mix of caution and daring to make 33; his repeated attempt to hit Swann through cover cost him. An off-break turned severely from well outside off-stump to steal between bat and pad.
V.V.S. Laxman played inside the line of an Anderson delivery to lose his off-stump. Unlike the leg-cutter at Trent Bridge, this was a straight ball.
It was left to Tendulkar (who survived a split-second stumping because no one appealed) and Mishra (night-watchman or promoted batsman?) to take India to stumps; the fight to save face will resume on Monday, the final day of the series.

England — 1st innings: 591 for six decl.

India — 1st innings: V. Sehwag lbw b Anderson 8 (6b, 2x4), R. Dravid (not out) 146 (266b, 20x4), V.V.S. Laxman c Prior b Broad 2 (7b), S. Tendulkar c Anderson b Swann 23 (34b, 4x4), S. Raina st. Prior b Swann 0 (29b), Ishant c Cook b Swann 1 (9b), M.S. Dhoni c Prior b Anderson 17 (50b, 2x4), A. Mishra c Bell b Bresnan 43 (77b, 6x4, 1x6), G. Gambhir c Pietersen b Broad 10 (62b, 1x4), R.P. Singh c Anderson b Bresnan 25 (23b, 5x4), S. Sreesanth c Morgan b Bresnan 0 (2b); Extras (b-8, lb-9, nb-1, w-7): 25; Total (in 94 overs): 300.

Fall of wickets: 1-8 (Sehwag), 2-13 (Laxman), 3-68 (Tendulkar), 4-93 (Raina), 5-95 (Ishant), 6-137 (Dhoni), 7-224 (Mishra), 8-264 (Gambhir), 9-300 (R.P. Singh).

England bowling: Anderson 16-7-49-2, Broad 21-3-51-2, Bresnan 17-3-54-3, Swann 31-5-102-3, Pietersen 7-1-27-0, Bopara 2-2-0-0.

India — 2nd innings: V. Sehwag b Swann 33 (67b, 5x4), R. Dravid c Cook b Swann 13 (32b, 2x4), V.V.S. Laxman b Anderson 24 (42b, 4x4), S. Tendulkar (batting) 35 (51b, 5x4), A. Mishra (batting) 8 (18b, 1x4); Extras (b-10, lb-6): 16; Total (for three wkts. in 35 overs): 129.
Fall of wickets: 1-49 (Dravid), 2-64 (Sehwag), 3-118 (Laxman).
England bowling: Anderson 9-2-39-1, Broad 6-3-8-0, Swann 15-2-51-2, Bresnan 5-0-15-0.