Indian Fans Fume As Australian TV Channel Names Ajit Agarkar In A Worst-Ever List

Ajit Agarkar's name is on the Lord's Honours Board, a feat failed to achieve by some the great batsmen. Yet, the former India all-rounder found himself in the list of worst-ever tailenders list published by Fox Cricket, an Australian TV channel dedicated to the Gentleman's Game. A look at the list tells that there was nothing noble in its effort to present an XI even for dubious distinctions. (More Cricket News)

And soon, Indian fans took to social media sites to defend Agarkar, who famously scored an unbeaten Test hundred against England at the home of cricket in 2002. His 109 not out almost saved the match for the visitors, a side that boasted some of the greatest batsmen in history.

In the ODIs, the right-handed batsman also had three fifties, including a 95 off 102 balls against the West Indies at Jamshedpur the same year.

His cause, however, was greatly damaged by a series of poor performances with the bat
against Australia -- seven consecutive ducks, five of those coming in a single series Down
Under, in 1999.

But still, he doesn't deserve to be in a list which has 'batsman' like Courtney Walsh,
Glenn McGrath, Chris Martin, etc. In the said XI, Agarkar is the only one to have an average of over 10 and also lone batsman to have a century against his name.

Celebrated commentator Harsha Bhogle wondered: "Agarkar? He has a test century! Got an odi 50 in 21 balls!"

Agarkar? He has a test century! Got an odi 50 in 21 balls!

— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) April 30, 2020

Here are some more reactions, and fans have many more 'worthy' candidates for such a list:

Agarkar? WTF? You guys heard of Danny Morrison?

— Amandeep Singh (@aman1986) April 30, 2020

Totally missing Danny Morrison, BS Bedi and BS Chandrasekhar.

— Stephen Males (@StephenMales) April 30, 2020

How do you Agarkar on the list? You dont even need detailed research to rule him out. Google, cricbuzz or just ask anyone.

— shreyans (@shreyansm) April 30, 2020

Seriously you need to sharpen your knowledge. Ajit agarkar?

— Francis D'souza (@fd2407) April 30, 2020

Ajit Agarkar in this list seriously ?? probably you need to watch cricket outside Australia also . He has average of 29 in first class cricket. Century at Lord's

— Mohammad Kamran (@Mr_WicketKeeper) April 30, 2020

Surely, Murali deserves to be on this list. He would in fact be my VC. He was a tailender with the bat, and tailender running between the wickets. Tailender through and through.

— kris kasya (@KrisKasya) April 30, 2020

Mohd. Irfan the 7 foot tall Pakistani bowler - couldn't lay bat on ball and ended up being one of the most embarrassing loss in ODI cricket history!

— El Magnifico (@VishnChipz) April 30, 2020

Go and see Ajit Agarkar's name on Lord's Honours Board https://t.co/8nQStfWaJJ

— Subhayan Chakraborty (@CricSubhayan) April 30, 2020

Agarkar had a test batting average of 16 and a first class batting average of 28! And a test century! #homework https://t.co/WI2Aw2jywt

— Matt Connellan (@MattConnellan) April 30, 2020

If Agarkar's on this list because he scored 19 runs in 6 innings in Australia in 1999-2000, I'd love to remind you that Ponting scored 17 runs in 5 innings in India in 2000-2001. And lest we forget, Agarkar has made the batting honours board at Lord's more times than Ponting has.

— Shiamak Baria-Unwalla (@ShiamakUnwalla) April 30, 2020

Here is worst-ever tailenders XI, with each players' Test stats, as provided by Fox Cricket:

CHRIS MARTIN — New Zealand (123 runs at 2.36. High score of 12 not out. 36 ducks); COURTNEY WALSH — West Indies (936 runs at 7.54. High score of 30 not out. 43 ducks), GLENN MCGRATH — Australia (138 runs at 7.36. High score of 61. 35 ducks), MONTY PANESAR — England (220 runs at 4.88. High score of 26. 20 ducks), AJIT AGARKAR — India (571 runs at 16.79. High score of 109 not out. Nine ducks), JASPRIT BUMRAH — India (32 runs at 2.90. High score of 10 not out. Six ducks), PHIL TUFNELL — England (153 runs at 5.10. High score of 22 not out. 15 ducks), BRUCE REID — Australia (93 runs at 4.65. High score of 13. Six ducks), DEVON MALCOLM — England (236 runs at 6.05. High score of 29. 16 ducks), HENRY OLONGA — Zimbabwe (184 runs at 5.41. High score of 24. 14 ducks) and POMMIE MBANGWA — Zimbabwe (34 runs at 2.00. High score of 8. Nine ducks)

Agarkar played 26 Tests, 191 ODIs and four T20Is for India, scoring 571, 1269 and 15 runs respectively.