AHMEDABAD, 10 October 2003 — Rahul Dravid cracked a career-best 222 before fast bowler Zaheer Khan rocked New Zealand with three quick wickets to put India in command of the first Test against New Zealand yesterday.

The 30-year-old Dravid displayed his mastery on a slow pitch, becoming only the second Indian batsman to score three Test double hundreds and setting up his side’s huge total of 500 for five declared.

Captain Saurav Ganguly piled on the agony for the hapless Kiwi bowlers on a slow pitch to make 100 not out, his 10th Test hundred, before declaring midway through the final session on the second day.

Left-armer Zaheer then rocked New Zealand’s top order as the batsmen braced more for spin, snapping up three wickets for eight runs in 13 deliveries to leave the tourists tottering at 41 for three.

He first forced Mark Richardson (6) to play on a delivery that nipped back sharply and then made fellow opener Lou Vincent (7) edge a slanted delivery behind the stumps.

Captain Stephen Fleming, who shone with a career-best 274 not out to draw a two-Test series in Sri Lanka in April, was bowled for one run shaping to leave a ball that nipped back.

India, who struggled for runs during a 2-0 series defeat on seaming New Zealand pitches last year, were suddenly transformed as runs came in a torrent.

Dravid, unbeaten on 110 overnight, dominated both pace and spin before surpassing his previous best Test score of 217 made against England at The Oval last year.

He shared in two major partnerships, adding 130 runs with Vangipurappu Laxman for the fourth wicket before raising a record 180 for the fifth with left-hander Ganguly.

Left-arm spinner Daniel Vettori, who bowled 44 overs, accounted for New Zealand’s only success in the morning when he had Laxman caught at mid-on for 64.

New Zealand bowled and fielded sharply to keep a check on the scoring until lunch, but Dravid played attacking shots all around the wicket before flicking off-spinner Paul Wiseman to midwicket for four to complete his double century.

His chanceless innings ended in the first over after tea, when he edged seamer Jacob Oram to wicketkeeper Robbie Hart, having hit him for two fours earlier in the over.

Dravid’s 387-ball innings contained 28 fours and a six, lofted over midwicket against Vettori.

Ganguly, who overcame a painful boil on his thigh, initially looked tentative but cut loose to add 54 runs from 10 overs with Parthiv Patel (29 not out) before declaring after sweeping Wiseman for a single to reach his century.

Pakistan’s Latif Pulls

Out of Test Series

In Rawalpindi, Pakistan’s wicketkeeper and former captain Rashid Latif pulled out of the two-match Test series against South Africa yesterday, citing family commitments.

“I have decided not to play the Tests as I have family commitments and I have informed the Pakistan Cricket Board about my decision,” Latif, 34, told reporters.

Latif, who resigned the captaincy last month shortly after being suspended for claiming an unfair catch in the Multan Test against Bangladesh, said he would be available for Pakistan’s tour of New Zealand in December. “I assure you there is no controversy behind my decision,” he said.

Latif’s decision may mean an end to his controversial career, in which he earned huge attention for blowing the whistle on a match-fixing controversy in 1995.