Dravid praises Lara's knock

Indian captain Rahul Dravid on Tuesday heaped praise on Brian Lara for getting his 34th Test century in sensational fashion in the second Test against Pakistan in Multan.

"Along with Sachin [Tendulkar], Lara is one of the best player of my generation. I actually watched a bit of his innings and his play against spinners was sensational," Dravid said in Durban.

Lara finished the third day of the second Test on 196 not out from 230 balls with 21 boundaries and seven sixes and gave a mauling to leg-spinner Danish Kaneria picking up 26 runs in one over.

Dravid said it is difficult to match somebody of Lara's quality.

"I have watched from close quarters some of his memorable knocks and he seems to get better and better as he is getting older.

"You are always picking up finer points but it is difficult to match him. He is somebody you can admire but can't copy. At my age it is difficult for me to bat the way Lara does."

South African coach Micky Arthur was similarly effusive and said the West Indian left-hander looks capable of getting a lot more centuries.

Now that the race for the most hundreds by a Test batsman has hotted up between current record holder Sachin Tendulkar (35), Lara (34) and Ricky Ponting (31), Arthur said he believes at the end of the day Tendulkar would still be on top "because he is one of my favourite players."