Jamaica, June 23: In a career spanning 15 years, 151 Test matches and 32 centuries, the milestones still keep coming. Rahul Dravid’s latest feat is guiding India to a Test win over West Indies at Sabina Park with a hard-fought second innings century that put the match beyond the hosts; the Man-of-the Match had also contributed 40 valuable runs in the first innings. Dravid’s effort here brings to mind the role he played in India’s victory in his last outing here in 2006. In the post-presentation media interview, Dravid spoke about his knock of 112, the pitch and the lack of time to get acclimatised.

Excerpts from the interview:

On comparing the 2006 pitch with the one that was used in the current match

I think it was a lot more difficult last time. Last time a lot of balls were just shooting, some of them were kicking up, so I don’t think [I can] compare [the two]. The last time it was a much tougher track. There was something in it here for the bowlers as well. It was a great cricket wicket […] there was something in it for the fast bowlers and a little bit of spin, as we saw. If you batted well, stuck in there, you could score some runs. Kudos to the groundsmen for doing a great job.

On whether it was difficult to get into the act without any time to acclimatise

It is a challenge [when] you play Test cricket. The last Test match I played was six months ago. There was no four-day game or three-day game in between that. Nowadays Test tours are so tight and back to back, you don’t even have that side game which gives us a chance to get used to things. It was tough, but luckily I got going in the first innings. I was a bit disappointed with my shot in the first innings and then had a bit of luck in the second innings [and] was able to capitalise [on it].

On whether he was enjoying his cricket as much as ever before

When you have days like this, and when you have Test matches like this when you can make a big contribution to your side, that’s what you play for. It’s great fun, it’s a great dressing room. I’m enjoying being with some of the younger guys and if you have good days like this, it makes it all the more fun.