The statistical highlights for 4th ODI indicate that Agarkar has been the fastest to reach the 250 wicket mark. In addition, he has taken only 1 more game than McGrath (and is 5th on the all-time fastest).
Agarkar, ironically, is faster than Pathan and VRV Singh as well. So much for Agarkar not 'breaking stumps' as Mr More pointed out.
If every one remember the history, whenever Agarkar is in good form he is dropped from the team on one pretext or the other....now the selectors say "keepin an eye on the future"...with no grudges...what Munaf Patel has done....just nothing...Mohinder Amarnath has righly called the sectors as "Buch of Jokers" some time back and it still holds good.
Zaheer has performed very well during the current county season. Agarakar has performed the best in the current ODI Series and both are very experience bowlers in the current team.
The selectors say they selected the team thinking about the futre. I want to ask the selectors who will ball now in West Indies Kiran More ?. Who has a record in Test Cricket by droping a catch which cost 333 runs scored by Gram Gooch.
Well, it is surprising to see Agarkar has been left out of the team but why VRV Singh. There is no doubt about his potential and ability but he needs to be groomed by playing more India A tour. This is not right through him to International cricket where WI cricket is famous for giving hard time for the new bowlers.
India A team is selected and they are going to Aus and this is ideal opportunity for VRV to get some more exposure to bowl in different place and against different team. Well, he was hopeless in Abu Dhabi the finals which was a very crucial game. He bowled well against small team with less experience and I don't think his selection is just on the merit.
Also, Z.Khan is bowling well here in England as Ajit in WI. We should have gone for them.
But otherwise, do complain about the team selection.
Good luck for the Test team and hope we win it this time.
Agarkar is so far the best bowler from both the teams and he also bowled very well in previous series at Abh-Dhabi . As TV speedgun shows, Ajit Agarkar is the fastest bowler (even faster than VRV and Munaf) , it is rediculous decision of selectors.
Now it is more important to be suited with the "policy" of selection committee (whatever it is) than the "performance". If it is only based on age, then how comes Kumble or VVS get selected? I have nothing against them, but the rule should be same for everyone. Not only BCCI, in India overall, that is not the case; rules are often flexed to suit the dubious policy. But such double standard of BCCI will start showing cracks in the team soon. More was mediocre at best as player, showing he is worse as a selection committee chair.
An interesting comment by Kiran More that Agarkar is now bowling well in Windies. NOW?? A comparison for one-dayers between Agarkar and Pathan for the past 2 1/2 years yields the result that Agarkar has taken 7 less wickets than Pathan. However, the biggest difference is in the series vs. England where Agarkar played only 3 one-dayers and took 3 wickets, whereas Pathan played 7 and took 13 wickets. Take out the additional 10 wickets that Pathan took in this tour, and Agarkar leads, and especially where it matters (against Australia, Windies and Pakistan, and they are tied against South Africa). Additionally, Agarkar has bowled 335 overs against Pathan's 338 and has given 35 more runs, not a big difference. Interesting for Chappell's blue-eyed boy to be of the same match-winning potential as the discard. Agarkar's batting average, however, is woefully poor than Pathan, but there have been many occassions when Pathan has come in at number 3, whereas Agarkar comes in at number 8 or 9
I do not have language to describe dirty politics of More, what he think himself. Agargar cannot be dropped from the team after seeing his present performance. If K.More is gentleman he should reconsider it.
Agarkar is not a OBC...and he was left because 27% reservation for OBC'S was made effective by BCCI...whose president is Mr. Sharad Pawar...who not surprisingly is also a cabinet minister...hmm
