BRISBANE, Australia :After a gut-wrenching dismissal on 99 last week, Murali Vijay made sure he didn't make himself too nervous in the nineties at the Gabba.
The India opener looked slightly surprised Wednesday when he reached his fifth test century, and needed his batting partner to confirm he'd safely progressed to triple figures.
Vijay went on to equal former captain Sourav Ganguly's record of 144 for the highest test score by an Indian batsman at the Brisbane venue before charging down the pitch to Nathan Lyon and edging a catch to Australia wicketkeeper Brad Haddin.
Following two half centuries in the 48-run loss in the first test at Adelaide, Vijay's hundred and his 124-run, fourth-wicket stand with Ajinkya Rahane (75 not out) helped India get away to a commanding 311-4 at stumps on day one of the second test.
"I was not aware of how much I was batting on. I was looking at the team score and batting, and Ajinkya was the non-striker, he told me that I got a hundred. So that's when I realized," Vijay recounted. "It's good in a way. I didn't want to see the score, because I got out for 99 in the last game."
Vijay was trapped lbw by Lyon on the last day in Adelaide, ending a promising partnership with Virat Kohli that kept India in with a chance of an unexpected victory. Without a victory target to chase this time, Vijay said he was focused more on building India's total rather than his own score.
"That was a great feeling to have, without knowing, because last match I was 99 I was aware of it, I did not get (a century). Today, I was not aware of it, I got it," he said. "That works."
Vijay has scored four of his test centuries against Australia, attributing that to playing the Aussies more often than any other country in his 29-test career.
"Making runs against the best is always going to help you in the confidence level, and as a person going forward," he said, adding that the hot and humid sub-tropical conditions in Brisbane on Wednesday seemed to suit India better than the home team.
"It was mentally challenging on them. Mentally, you're drained," he said. "I could see a lot of bowlers sulking out there ... and I thought a lot of people are getting tired on their team. I wanted to wait until that time and make use of it."
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