Adelaide, Dec 15: Rahul Dravid made the highest ever score by an Indian abroad and Ajit Agarkar picked two early wickets as India pushed Australia on the back foot on the fourth day of the second cricket Test here today. Dravid hit a career best 233 which helped India reach 523 in the first innings before Agarkar dismissed Justin Langer (10) and Ricky Ponting (0) to leave Australia struggling at 21 for two at lunch.
Australia, with a first innings total of 556, have an overall lead of 54 runs with Matthew Hayden (9) and Damien Martyn (2) at the crease.
Dravid now owns the best individual score by an Indian on Australian soil, having bettered the 206 by Ravi Shastri at Sydney in 1991-92.
Dravid also holds the highest individual score abroad by an Indian, surpassing Sunil Gavaskar's 221 against England at the Oval in 1979.
Earlier in his innings yesterday, Dravid went past the 6000 run mark in his Test career.
Dravid's innings, which came to an end when his hook shot off Jason Gillespie was caught by Andy Bichel at long leg, lasted nearly 10 hours during when he faced 446 balls and hit 23 fours and a six.
Resuming at 477 for seven, India lost Anil Kumble for 12 when he was ruled leg before wicket to Stuart MacGill.
MacGill then had Irfan Pathan caught and bowled for one before Dravid became the last man out. Bureau Report