Another Test innings, and another Test century for Rahul Dravid. Conditions were more suited for batting than at Headingley or Trent Bridge, and Dravid took full toll. As in most of his innings, he followed the old mantra of playing each ball on its merit. The good-length deliveries were patted down with immaculate technique; the loose balls put away with clinical efficiency. Of 133 balls that pitched on a good length, he scored a mere 33 – a rate of 1.5 runs per over. But from the 27 deliveries which were full in length, he creamed 29 runs – that's almost 6.5 runs every six balls. Further, he eased 23 runs from the 28 balls which pitched on middle or leg stump, but only 62 off the 188 deliveries outside off.

The most impressive aspect of his knock was the way he was completely in charge in the middle. His in-control factor throughout the day was a phenomenal 91.5%; in the afternoon session, it reached an unbelievable 95%. It was hardly surprising that Nasser Hussain had to resort to leg theory: in this form, it's Dravid that England would fear most, not Sachin Tendulkar.

S Rajesh is sub editor of Wisden.com in India.

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