Jokingly bragged to Ponting that I had scored more Lordâs hundreds than him, reveals Ajit Agarkar
Ajit Agarkar, whose only 50+ score in Test cricket was a century at Lordâs, revealed that in his stint with KKR in the IPL, he had mocked Ponting for not having scored a ton at Lordâs. Batting at No.8, Agarkar scored a blistering 109* against an England attack that comprised Hoggard and Flintoff.
A remarkably accurate pacer who did wonders with the ball, Ajit Agarkarâs most famous achievement in international cricket bizarrely came with the bat in his hand. Batting at No.8 against a strong English attack, the right-hander, with India 170/6 chasing 568, decided to cut loose and try his luck and astonishingly ended up scoring a ton, thereby putting his name on the honours board.
Scoring a century at Lordâs is, in fact, a feat not achieved by many legends of the sport, with Ricky Ponting being one batsman to not have that honour. Speaking to Gauav Kapoor in the 22 Yarns podcast, the 42-year-old recalled a hilarious story where he mocked the former Australian skipper for not having scored a ton at Lordâs. While acknowledging that he got a bit lucky, Agarkar, however, attested that the ton is a fond memory that he cherishes.
âI did quietly to Ricky Ponting once, when he was playing at KKR with me. Just laughingly asked him, âHow many hundreds at Lordâs ya?,ââ Agarkar said during the 22 Yarns with Gaurav Kapur podcast, reported Hindustan Times.
âBut look, those guys, I would easily swap my one hundred for what theyâve achieved. Itâd be too disrespectful to ask them that. But itâs always fun, I was lucky enough to get a hundred there. Itâs a special memory.â
Agarkarâs century in that game was powered by a 63-run stand he shared with teammate and fellow quick Ashish Nehra for the 10th wicket, with the left-armer giving able support to Agarkar by scoring 19 runs himself. Agarkar expressed his disbelief over Nehra holding on for 54 balls and added that he owed his century to the left-arm quick.
âIf somebody sees the first innings, he went in as nightwatchman, and got hit about four times â twice on his pads, once on his ribs off Flintoff, and fifth ball he was out. If you watched that first innings, nobody would believe he held on for⌠I think he was eventually 20-odd in that innings,â Agarkar said of Nehra.
âOnce I got my hundred, he even told me, âDonât get out, I want to try and get my fiftyâ! I remember him whacking Flintoff, pulled him a ball after I got my hundred. It hit one of the hospitality boxes, and came back on the ground. I owe my hundred to him.â