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Five point something bowler.

by Gaurav Sethi

There are many things you can blame Bhajji for, but Ajit Agarkar’s return to the limited over’s team, surely not. This Ranji, this Agarkar fellah has been scoring runs like, to put it crudely, Bhajji. With Bhajji, the lower order all-rounder, the bowler who bosses around with his bat, has made headlines, extended deadlines, that kinda thing.

In short, India’s batty about the bowler who can bat; to hell with what he bowls. Now Agrakar has scored big this Ranji. Fast fifties like he’s working at McDonald’s. And he bowls too, didn’t he always – seeing that Ishant’s 8 runs per over are more than acceptable for ODIs, how bad can Agarkar’s five point something be – ok, you’re thinking, if he goes for five point something, Chetan Bhagat will go nuts again – claim credits for the runs scored of Agarkar’s bowling.

Other than that I can’t think of any reason to keep Agarkar away – Ishant comes and goes as the mobile that calls him pleases, why not Agarkar? Like I said, he can bat. And by now, surely he has nothing to lose. Also, if Sami can comeback, why not the boy who “might go for a few but he is a wicket taking bowler. It will make Shastri chatty. And we’ll all have someone new old to blame.

14 comments:

Prabu said...

NC, surely Agarkar is much much better than the guys we have now. For all his expensive bowling, Agarkar always delivered on the wickets column. Not for nothing does he have one of the best ODI strike rates. Added to his bowling is his presence in the outfield - safe and quick - which we don't get from the other bowlers. In the days of 300+ totals, AA's consistently expensive 5.5 is so much better.....

pRAFs said...

yeah, he even has a test century.
how many does bhajji have?... huh.. huh?

pRAFs said...

and a 95 at number 3 against WI, to boot, whatcha got bhaj...?

Som said...

Bravo NC, fore unearthing Agarkar. and that Five Point Something is just too good.

straight point said...

if chetan don't have problem... i won't mind...

Anonymous said...

seriously guys i think he was born ahead of his time!! he deserves a last chance!!

Rohit said...

@ Anonymous...

Well said. Indeed, he was born ahead of his time. Dhoni came up with the 8-1 field in 2008, but Agarkar has bowled to this field all his life....only to be dismissed as a dispenser of long hops.
Such foresight and tactical acumen in addition to the obvious talent!

Gaurav Sethi said...

Prabu, what goes against him is time spent away from the side; do MS or the selectors want him; if they pick him, will it be two steps back; the media's take - not quite like Ramps' pick for the Ashes, but it will be a bold move nonetheless.

I agree, he could be better than some of the guys - but I'm not for picking bowlers on the basis of their batting. I'd rather look out for a outright strike bowler.

Guess I'm plain curious, what can AA do now, where is he as a cricketer?

Gaurav Sethi said...

Prafs, I'm sure Bhajji doesn't have those many ducks on the trot.

Bhajji as a batsman has exceeded his potential, AA has under delivered; always considered him someone who could bat but not battle. A softy.

Gaurav Sethi said...

Som, AA is one of my favourite cricket pastimes.

SP, Of course Chetan will have a problem

Anon, he is yet to be born, cricketing-wise. And that's a shame; had it all, just not the stomach for a fight.

Gaurav Sethi said...

Rohit, to me, AA always warranted a 1-8 field; those effort balls on the pads are still fresh.

Tho I can't exactly recall what exactly SMG said when those defensive fields were set for him, anyone?

Prabu said...

This is where Agarkar is in the Indian ODI bowling pantheon:

Most wickets Player Span Mat Balls Runs Wkts BBI Ave Econ SR 4 5
A Kumble 1990-2007 269 14376 10300 334 6/12 30.83 4.29 43.0 8 2
J Srinath 1991-2003 229 11935 8847 315 5/23 28.08 4.44 37.8 7 3
AB Agarkar 1998-2007 191 9484 8021 288 6/42 27.85 5.07 32.9 10 2
N Kapil Dev 1978-1994 225 11202 6945 253 5/43 27.45 3.71 44.2 3 1
Harbhajan Singh 1998-2010 205* 10649 7603 230 5/31 33.05 4.28 46.3 2 3
Z Khan 2000-2010 162* 8115 6678 219 5/42 30.49 4.93 37.0 7 1
BKV Prasad 1994-2001 161 8129 6332 196 5/27 32.30 4.67 41.4 3 1


3rd on the list of wicket-takers with the best SR, 2nd lowest average (1st is Kapil) and the highest economy rate in the top 8. His economy is 5.07 Vs Zaheer is 4.93. It is a travesty that he is not even in the reckoning as he should be. I won't be surprised if he comes back though, given that Srikkanth is the Chairman of selectors. It was Sri, as the Indian A coach, in 1998 that recommended higher honors for AA after his performances for the Ind A team against the WI. However, it is quite clear that he is not in Dhoni's circle which would hamper his chances big time. Things could be different if Mumbai win the Ranji final though - to the Ranji victors goes the spoils always and AA is definitely one of the better performers for Mumbai this season.

Gaurav Sethi said...

Point taken Prabu.

AA could make the T20 WC; we don't bat too deep, do we?

Naresh said...

Agarkar is very good - he absolutely CANNOT be worse than Nehra was today :) much better fielder and a tidy batsman too!!! (Ask the Delhi Ranji team ;-)