Yousuf overtakes Richards but Miandad his model

KARACHI, Nov 27 (Reuters) Pakistan's Mohammad Yousuf said after breaking West Indian Viv Richards's record of seven hundreds in a calendar year today that he drew his batting inspiration from countryman Javed Miandad.

''I am delighted to be able to break Richards's record and to be ranked alongside him. He was the greatest player of the century,'' said Yousuf who scored his eighth century of 2006 on the first day of the final test against the West Indies.

''Richards has been my favourite batsman, but my inspiration has always been Miandad. I have styled myself on him.'' Miandad, a former captain, played 124 tests and remains Pakistan's highest test run-getter.

Yousuf made 102, his third successive century against the West Indians to break the seven-in-a-year record held jointly by Richards and Sri Lanka's Aravinda de Silva.

He needs 47 more runs to break another record held by Richards for most runs in a calendar year since 1976.

Yousuf, 32, ranked his 202 against England at Lord's as the most memorable of his eight hundreds of 2006.

He said: ''I rate that knock very highly because it came at the home of cricket and it was a turning point for me to get a big score in an away test.'' Yousuf, who has scored 22 hundreds in all, said his main ambition was to be part of a team to beat Australia in a test.

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