The Fall Guy

As Ajit Agarkar sent down a thrilling fast yorker to an ominous looking Imran Farhat during the 1st DLF Cup match to shatter his stumps, an unusual vision presented itself. Unusual mainly in that such instances of glory for an Indian quickie, besides being rare, have never featured this nippy underachiever in eight long years since those phenomenal first few months following his international debut.

It has been a disappointing downward curve since for a man who started off that well. Ajit Agarkar kept getting regular breakthroughs but the costs, in terms of runs conceded, were often too much. His batting stance and stroking ability spoke of a hesitant yet capable lower order batsman hiding behind that lean frame but he never got the coaxing and cajoling that would help transform that potential into substantial performances.

In the 2000s Agarkar was forever in and out of the national side. His selection depended on non availability or loss of form of other key bowlers. And to give his critics their due, Agarkar never delivered that one string of good performances that would have elevated him in the eyes of the cricket loving folk of his country.

The one aspect of Ajit Agarkar's cricket that kept him in the reckoning even in the worst of times was his athletic outfielding and possession of a great throwing arm. This advantage on the field has seen him outlast bowlers like Zaheer Khan and Ashish Nehra, guys who once were thought to be far ahead of the little Maharashtrian in the race to bowling greatness.

That one ball he bowled in the DLF Cup a month ago, however, seems to have brought more obvious changes in him than eight long years in the heat of international cricket did. Off course this is an impulsive declaration on my part; a lot of hard work in the nets must have gone into his present success. Moreover it is a bare five or six matches since that Agarkar turnaround and therefore too early to sing hosannas or announce with fanfare the return of the prodigal.

Regardless of the cause though, the Agarkar everyone knew has undergone a sudden metamorphosis and now he looks every bit the top flight opening bowler in ODI's that people gave up their hopes on. He bowled tight and incisive spells in that DLF match, in the next one, and - as the venue shifted to the Caribbean - bowled just as well in the next...and the next...and the next!

The Test squad for the West Indian tour had to be announced at this point and sure enough Agarkar, inspite of bowling splendidly in the 1st three one dayers, could not find himself a slot to stay on. Barring a six-wicket haul in the Australian 2nd innings at Adelaide 2003 that helped India register their most memorable Test win in recent years, Ajit Agarkar has only a stark bare cupboard to show for his returns in Test cricket. He never got enough number of Test matches at one go, but let us be fair to the selectors and just say that he always managed to look way below par to even be considered for those often-vital extra matches. Now in the prime of his one day career Agarkar will continue to pay for that dark past of profligacy.

Looking back at his career which yet has a few years left, Ajit Agarkar may rue that he found his bearings too late in the day to earn him a regular Test place. The competition for fast bowling slots in the Indian team is hotter today than ever before, and Agarkar will realise that he has done precious little yet to claim a Test place ahead of the young lad selected to replace him after the ODI's are done with.

All said and done, Ajit Agarkar is just 28. For the sake of this silent team player who has finally chosen to knock at the door of success after sheepishly turning his back on it time and again, one wishes that his abundant bowling talent could be given that one last chance to prove itself worthy of representing India in the Tests. As I write this post Agarkar picks up Ramnaresh Sarwan [another opposition vice captain who has become a thorn in India's flesh] in his first over for India in the make or break 4th ODI.

Come on BCCI selectors, just fit Ajit Agarkar in the Test squad and provide him with that one opportunity in Tests NOW, and let there be none again - extra or otherwise.