Hurt of axing spurs Sehwag to triple hundred
By N.Ananthanarayanan
CHENNAI (Reuters) - Indian opener Virender Sehwag said the hurt of being axed from the test squad last year had motivated him to his second career triple hundred on Friday.
The 29-year-old smashed an unbeaten 309 in the first test against South Africa to spur India to 468 for one, just 72 runs away from the visitors' total.
Sehwag's 278-ball 300 was the fastest since number of balls faced began to be recorded and matched the feats of Australian Don Bradman and West Indies' Brian Lara, the other batsmen to score test triple hundreds twice.
The only Indian to score a test 300 matched his score against Pakistan at Multan in 2004, now eyeing Lara's record 400 not out.
"I have no words to describe this knock," Sehwag said after the third day's play. "This innings is even better than the one in Multan.
"I had to prove myself that I belong at this level."
Sehwag hit 42 fours and five sixes, batting for more than eight hours in sapping heat and humidity, needing ice baths at the lunch interval and after stumps.
