Agarkar

I've never really understood why India continue to select Ajit Agarkar. His record isn't bad, and he has had his moments in international cricket, but to me, he just doesn't seem up to it. Ok, he does a bit with the ball, but he always seems to send down at least one four ball an over, not a good attribute for a guy now seen as a one-day specialist. As I said, he has had his moments - a test century at Lord's and a major contribution to a test win in Australia with 6/41 in the fourth innings (his only test five wicket haul). These moments, though spectacular, are too few and far between. I didn't see Tuesday's match, but the figures certainly suggest he was the least effective of India's three front line seamers. I guess Indian selectors feel they have few other options with Irfan Pathan out of form/favour, Munaf Patel unfit and Sreesanth so erratic.

Like most Australian's, my lasting memory of Agarkar will be the seven ducks in a row he scored against Australia over four tests and two series. Incredibly, the first four of these ducks were first ballers, the fifth was a second baller, and the sixth and seventh lasted a marathon 15 and 12 balls respectively. You can imagine the barracking he cops each time he walks out to bat in Australia!