233 – RAHUL DRAVID, Adelaide, 2003

Whenever a team has scored over 550 runs in the first innings of a Test match, playing on their home ground, seldom have they lost the Test match. However, Australia experienced the largely unique thing, when they lost the second Test to India at Adelaide Oval.

Australia put up 556 runs on the back of 242 by Ricky Ponting. India replied in kind with 523 with VVS Laxman making 148 and Rahul Dravid coming up with a one of a kind innings of 233. The duo added 303 runs and gave Australian bowlers a repeat of the 2001 Kolkata Test nightmare.

Dravid was unremovable from the start and with Tendulkar and Ganguly falling for single-digit scores, he took on the responsibility of scoring runs on himself. Dravid’s innings lasted for 446 balls and 594 minutes and he hit one six and 23 fours in his marathon knock.

His innings set up a brilliant win for India, who chased down 230 runs with Dravid remaining not out for 72 and also hit the winning runs, as India took a lead in the Test series.