5 Rahul Dravid records in Test cricket

Rahul Dravid is, without a doubt, one of the best batsmen India has produced. Fondly known as The Wall for his consistency in the field, Dravid was one of the most dependable batsmen for India for decades.

Be it the number of balls faced or time spent at the crease, the number of catches held or other partnership records, Dravid has several different records to his name. But for the presence of one Sachin Tendulkar, he could have become known as the greatest Batsman India has ever produced.

Here are five Rahul Dravid Test records.

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1. Highest number of balls faced and the longest time spent at the crease

The Wall

Rahul Dravid, arguably the best No.3 Batsman for India in history, has faced the highest number of balls and spent more time at the crease than any of his other peers, in his Test career spanning over 16 years.

He has faced 31,258 deliveries during his Test Career, with the next closest batman being Sachin Tendulkar at 29,437 balls. He has spent 44,152 minutes at the crease in Test matches which works out to almost 736 hours, also a world record.

His ability to gauge where exactly his off-stump was and leave the balls pitched outside the off-stump alone, are attributes that enabled him to occupy the crease for such long durations.

2. First cricketer to score centuries in all 10 Test playing nations

Legends At The Oval, London

Rahul Dravid is the first batsman to have scored centuries in all 10 Test cricket playing nations. England, West Indies, New Zealand, Australia, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and India were the 10 Test playing nations during his career.

His first century came against South Africa in 1996-97 Series at Wanderers, Johannesburg, where he scored a masterly 148 against the bowling attack of Allan Donald and others. The highest score in his career of 270 came against Pakistan at Rawalpindi.

3. Most runs by an Indian batsman playing at No. 3

233 at Adelaide, Australia (2003 series)

Rahul Dravid has scored more than 10,000 runs batting at No.3 position in Tests. He has scored a total of 10524 runs in 219 Test innings at an average of 52.88 at this position, with 28 centuries and 50 fifties. This is the highest by any Indian batsman batting at No. 3 position. It is also the second-highest in the world behind Kumar Sangakkara.

Apart from his first series against England in 1996, Dravid has batted at the No.3 position for most of his career. In 2001, due to temporary loss of form, he was asked to bat at No.6 in the Kolkata Test against Australia. He scored a patient 180 and along with VVS Laxman, was involved in a match-winning partnership of 376 runs. He got back to his No.3 position after this knock.

4. Partnership records

Ganguly, Dravid, Tendulkar and Laxman at Sachin's book launch

Jammy, as his teammates fondly call him, has many partnership records to his name. Some of the significant ones are listed below:

1) He has the highest number of partnership runs in history - a record 32,039

2) He has been involved in the maximum number of fifty and hundred partnerships - 126 partnerships of 50+ runs and 88 partnerships of 100+ runs.

3) He shares a record with Sachin Tendulkar, as the duo have scored more runs in a partnership than any other pair of batsmen in history - a whooping 6,920 runs including 20 century partnerships.

5. Highest number of catches by a non-wicket keeper

Anil Kumble and Harbhajan Singh, two of India's top spinners

Rahul Dravid kept wickets during his school days, which helped him become one of the best slip fielders for India. He played 164 Tests and held 210 catches - a record for a non-wicket keeping fielder.

Dravid was the best person to have in the slip fielding position when the attack was led by spinners. He has taken more than 50 catches each, off the bowling of Anil Kumble (55) and Harbhajan Singh (51) in Tests which is also a record in itself, for a fielder for having taken more than 50 catches of two different bowlers.