Sport - Cricket;Dravid becomes first No. 3 batsman to score 8,000 runs

Mohali, Dec 19 (IANS) Rahul Dravid became the first batsman in the world to aggregate 8,000 runs while batting at number three. He reached the landmark when he was on 20 during his unbeaten 65 in the second Test against England here Friday.

He has an aggregate of 8,045 runs at the end of the first day's play. Close at heels is Australian skipper Ricky Ponting with an aggregate of 7,992 runs.

Dravid's 65 not out is his 60th fifty (19 hundreds and 41 half centuries) while batting at number three, which is a record for most fifties by a batsman batting at number three slot.

Dravid set up an Indian record for most fifties on home soil. His innings is his 24th half century on home soil. He wrested the record from Sunil Gavaskar and Sachin Tendulkar who have 23 half centuries on home soil.

This is Dravid's ninth half century against England. Other batsmen who have more half centuries are: Gavaskar (16), Gundappa Viswanath (12) and Tendulkar (10).

Gautam Gambhir, who scored an unbeaten 106 Friday, became the third Indian batsman to register three or more hundreds in the calendar year 2008. Others are Tendulkar (04) and Virender Sehwag (03).

Gambhir is one of the six opening batsmen who have registered three or more hundreds in the calendar year 2008. Others are: Greame Smith of South Africa (5), Simon Katich of Australia (4), Neil Mckenzie of South Africa (03), Virender Sehwag (3) and Andrew Strauss (3).

Gambhir needs 36 more runs to aggregate 1,000 runs in 2008.

This is Gambhir's fourth Test hundred. The other three were: 139 vs Bangladesh at Chittagong in Dec 2004, 104 vs Australia at Mohali in Oct 2008 and 206 vs Australia at Delhi in Oct 2008.