Dravid sets a new world record

Rahul Dravid, by scoring a century in the second Test against Bangladesh at Chittagong on Friday, joined the exclusive club of three other players -- Australia's Steve Waugh, South African Gary Kirsten and teammate Sachin Tendulkar in scoring a century against all nine Test playing nations.

His century, however, earned him a unique record which none of the other three players or for that matter any player in the world has got on his name.

Dravid is the first ever batsman in Test history to score a century in all 10 Test playing countries.

Waugh did not play any Tests in Bangladesh and his highest score in Sri Lanka was only 19. Though Waugh's tally of centuries do include a century at a neutral venue (Sharjah v Pakistan in 2002-03).

Kirsten, likewise Waugh, also did not play in Bangladesh and he too found Sri Lankan spinners too hard to handle with a highest of 55 in Sri Lanka. Tendulkar's highest on Zimbabwean soil has been 74, otherwise he has scored at least a century in all Test playing countries.

The country-wise break-up of Dravid's 18 centuries: 6 in India, 3 in England, 2 in New Zealand (in the same match) and one each in Australia, South Africa, West Indies, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe and Bangladesh.

Come to think of it, Dravid's record can only be emulated and not broken until of course ICC grants Test status to a new side, which is highly unlikely in near future, having seen the way Bangladesh are performing.

Dravid's centuries in Test cricket: