Image Credit – Cricket Australia.
Venue – The Gabba, Brisbane [December 4-8, 2003].
Cricket is a game of figures and stats. Every now and then we hear news of a particular player breaking one or another record. But there are certain statistics which are not only hard to break, but also no one wants to hold onto them. One such record is Ajit Agarkar's seven consecutive ducks against Australia.
In the summer of 1999-2000, India toured Australia to play 3 test matches. Agarkar, who was establishing himself as a promising all-rounder, started off decently in Adelaide, wherein he scored 19 runs. Unfortunately, things went downhill post this innings, as he was dismissed for a duck every single time he came onto bat.
The tragedy continued in Mumbai as well, wherein he was dismissed for a duck in both innings. As a result, when he came out to bat in Gabba, all eyes were upon him. Can Agarkar get off to the mark? Fortunate enough, he got a full toss on the leg side which helped him get an easy single. The crowd was cheering like anything when Agarkar completed his single. Interestingly, this one run meant so much to Agarkar that he waved his bat as if he had completed his hundred.
It is pertinent to note that Agarkar is one of those Indian batsmen who have a Test hundred at Lord's. Something which even the God of Cricket doesn't have. But against Australia he struggled to score even one, which was shocking and surprising for everyone. Fortunate enough, he got some runs in Gabba, which gave him confidence.
Interestingly, in the next test match, he bowled a match-winning spell in Adelaide, which helped India take a vital lead in the 4-match series.
To watch the struggles of Agarkar, Click Here.
To watch the match-winning spell of Agarkar, Click Here.
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