2 amazing articles from the past! Must read

[Rightarmfast]

I was just surfing and reading old articles on Indian fast bowlers, as i often do. And I found these 2 old articles.One is an interview of Ajit Wadekar before 78 Pakistan tour and even then they were talking about lack of fast bowlers. And the next one is about 15 yrs old , more on a pace sensation called Zaheer khan. Hope you guys like it...

 

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/lack-of-genuine-fast-bowlers-is-a-problem-ajit-wadekar/1/434619.html

http://www.thehindu.com/2000/10/25/stories/07250285.htm

 

[Mosher]

I was just surfing and reading old articles on Indian fast bowlers, as i often do. And I found these 2 old articles.One is an interview of Ajit Wadekar before 78 Pakistan tour and even then they were talking about lack of fast bowlers. And the next one is about 15 yrs old , more on a pace sensation called Zaheer khan. Hope you guys like it...

 

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/lack-of-genuine-fast-bowlers-is-a-problem-ajit-wadekar/1/434619.html

http://www.thehindu.com/2000/10/25/stories/07250285.htm

 

Interesting anecdote about Sir Aggy from the article "Ajit Agarkar was a specialist batsman before he developed interest to bowl with the new ball. In a country so impoverished in this department, the thin Agarkar surprised onlookers by the speed and lift he generated off the pitch. Krishnamachari Srikkanth, who was the coach of the India `A' team which toured Pakistan in 1997-98, said after the team's return that he would like to see Srinath and Agarkar share the new ball. Agarkar's huge haul on a green top in the first Test against Pakistan `A' forced the Pakistan Cricket Board to instruct the groundsman for the second and third Tests to prepare a flat wicket!" 

 

[Rightarmfast]

Interesting anecdote about Sir Aggy from the article "Ajit Agarkar was a specialist batsman before he developed interest to bowl with the new ball. In a country so impoverished in this department, the thin Agarkar surprised onlookers by the speed and lift he generated off the pitch. Krishnamachari Srikkanth, who was the coach of the India `A' team which toured Pakistan in 1997-98, said after the team's return that he would like to see Srinath and Agarkar share the new ball. Agarkar's huge haul on a green top in the first Test against Pakistan `A' forced the Pakistan Cricket Board to instruct the groundsman for the second and third Tests to prepare a flat wicket!" 

 

Don't tell me you were unaware that Agarkar destroyed the Pakistan 'A' team in Pakistan in the 97-98 tour. If I remember correctly, even after they prepared flat pitches, Pakistani batsmen were unable to play Agarkar.

Speaking of which, I was reading fast bowling tips blogs of an Aussie fast bowling school. The head trainer had written the article and he gave the example of Ajit Agarkar. It stated that Agarkar started off as a medium pacer, and developed into a genuine fast bowler. Yeah, he specifically used the word genuine fast for him.Which is true. 

[Ironhide]

I was just surfing and reading old articles on Indian fast bowlers, as i often do. And I found these 2 old articles.One is an interview of Ajit Wadekar before 78 Pakistan tour and even then they were talking about lack of fast bowlers. And the next one is about 15 yrs old , more on a pace sensation called Zaheer khan. Hope you guys like it...

 

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/lack-of-genuine-fast-bowlers-is-a-problem-ajit-wadekar/1/434619.html

http://www.thehindu.com/2000/10/25/stories/07250285.htm

 

Thanks for posting these, Good to see that even in those times there were few pace bowling enthusiasts in India otherwise the majority coaching and other establishments are filled with anti-fast bowler mentality. 

[Mosher]

Don't tell me you were unaware that Agarkar destroyed the Pakistan 'A' team in Pakistan in the 97-98 tour. If I remember correctly, even after they prepared flat pitches, Pakistani batsmen were unable to play Agarkar.

Speaking of which, I was reading fast bowling tips blogs of an Aussie fast bowling school. The head trainer had written the article and he gave the example of Ajit Agarkar. It stated that Agarkar started off as a medium pacer, and developed into a genuine fast bowler. Yeah, he specifically used the word genuine fast for him.Which is true. 

I was unaware of this. Looking at Agarkar one cannot believe he was capable of bowling 140K. He bowled some amazing yorkers. If he had only been little more accurate, he would have been a top ODI bowler for India.

[Rightarmfast]

I was unaware of this. Looking at Agarkar one cannot believe he was capable of bowling 140K. He bowled some amazing yorkers. If he had only been little more accurate, he would have been a top ODI bowler for India.

Looking at Agarkar, it was difficult to believe. However, he consistently bowled above 140, and had a top speed of 147kph officially clocked. And he reached 147 quite a few times in his career.

I must say that whatever kind of a bowler Agarkar was, in terms of speed he was way above others. He mostly had an average pace of 87-88mph in most of his matches. Which is pretty sharp. I have no doubt in my mind, that if Agarkar was around 6'1' ft of height, he would have been bowling at 150-155 pretty easily.

[express bowling]

Ajit Agarkar was very very sharp when he started his international career in 1998. As far as I remember, it was an ODI series vs Australia being played in India. He bowled quite a few deliveries which passed the batsmen before they could bring their bat down. Had a really sharp bouncer too. Even though he was short and thin he hit the deck hard ...used his wrists a lot while bowling quick.

He bowled 135 k to 147 k for 3 or 4 seasons  and then settled down to 132 k to 142 k range for the rest of his career. He never became a 130 to 135 k or less bowler ever in his international career.

He had a nice outswinger and got seam movement too as he hit the deck hard.

Agarkar had the mentality of a genuine quick too...he was a good ODI bowler who took wickets regularly. Could have done better in tests if he was a bit taller ...as his bowling style was more suited to a tall pacer.  

Edited December 26, 2015 by express bowling

[Rightarmfast]

Pretty good assessment there. He was a handy batsman, if he were handled well or if he was mentored well, he could have done much better. I believe had he just been asked to stick to shocking the batsmen with his sharp delieveries and just yorkers, he would have known his place better. He just used to try too hard.

His first international wicket was adam gilchrist who gave a catch at point because he just didnt expect the ball to come at the pace Agarkar was bowling at.

[sandeep]

Sir Aggy had skiddy pace and often got wickets when the batsmen were just a bit late on the shot.  He was also always expensive, because he kept the ball full and couldn't control the line well enough to prevent hit-me balls.