Top 10 centuries by tail-enders in international cricket

#5 Ajit Agarkar – 109* vs. England, Lord’s (2002)

Ajit Agarkar is on the Lord’s honours board for his batting. Still hard to believe!

Any test century is a special feat; however a test century at Lord’s is an even better feeling. Many greats of the game such as Sachin Tendulkar and Ricky Ponting have failed to reach the three-figure mark at the Home of Cricket. However, one surprising name that features on the Lord’s honours board is that of Indian medium pacer Ajit Agarkar, not for his bowling exploits, but the classy hundred against England in 2002.

For a man infamously nicknamed the ‘Bombay Duck’ due to his repeated habit of falling for zero, it was quite a surprise for an average fan to witness Agarkar stroke his way to a majestic hundred. With a defeat all but certain, Agarkar and Laxman provided stubborn resistance, frustrating Nasser Hussain and his bowlers to no end.

Timing the ball sweetly, Agarkar hammered Flintoff in front of the wicket thrice in a single over and then pushing a delivery off Simon Jones through the covers for a two when on 99, Agarkar reached his hundred. Jumping in celebration, he scampered for the double as the entire team with wide smiles on their faces applauded from the balcony. Albeit a consolation as India crashed to a defeat, the match has since forever been remembered for Agarkar’s innings of a lifetime.