The India-England Test series has seen many great moments. One of them is the first Test of England’s 2002 tour of India. In that match, Ajit Agarkar scored a hundred at Lord’s.
He was always criticized for his batting, but he surprised everyone with an unbeaten hundred at Lord’s.
A hundred in a first Test is special, but at Lord’s it’s even more so. When a bowler does it, it’s legendary. Agarkar achieved this in 2002 when India played England in the first Test at Lord’s.
In that match, India, led by Sourav Ganguly, struggled early as England scored 487. India replied with 221 in their first innings. England’s second innings added to the pressure.
In the second innings chase, India’s top order struggled. After half-centuries from Wasim Jaffer and Rahul Dravid, VVS Laxman added 74.
On the last day of the Test, Agarkar walked in to help. He batted determinedly and scored a good half-century. He continued to dominate the English bowlers and converted his half-century into his first Test hundred.
He finished with 109 not out from 190 balls, 16 fours. Agarkar became the seventh Indian to score a Test hundred at Lord’s, and got his name on the famous Honour Board—not as a bowler but as a batsman.
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Despite Agarkar’s efforts on the last day, it wasn’t enough and England won the Test. India were chasing 487 in the first innings and fell short. Except for Sehwag’s 84 and Dravid’s 46, no one else had any impact. Things went wrong in the second innings and England scored 301 thanks to centuries from Michael Vaughan and John Crawley.
Things went from bad to worse when Tendulkar was out for 12 and Ganguly didn’t score. During this collapse Agarkar and Laxman offered some hope with a crucial partnership. When Laxman was out the team collapsed and England won by 170.
