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Jonathan Agnew must have been the thinnest fast bowler ever to play for
England. His inability to fill out his sparse frame probably accounts
for him not developing from a youngster who promised high pace into an
international quick bowler. He was never quite fast enough for top
batsmen. In later years, when he had turned himself into an accurate
fast-medium bowler who moved the ball both ways he was ignored by the
selectors, despite regularly being among the leading wicket-takers in
the County Championship. Despite only playing in three Test matches
Agnew made sure he led a full life. He played cricket on the ice at St.
Moritz with David Gower and after his retirement was called out of the
BBC commentary box to play for Leicestershire in an important cup match.
He was not known as a quick mover in the outfield. Once the
groundsman's tractor had to be used to fetch him from the field at Grace
Road after he had sprained his ankle. On another occasion a
Leicestershire member barracked him for poor fielding, until Graeme Hick
struck a 6 which hit the heckler on the leg. "You've been on to me all
day, but the first time it comes to you, you drop it, " Agnew told the
startled man. He learned his cricket from the thatched pavilion at
Uppingham School and became the school's first England cap since
Victorian times when, aged 24, he was chosen for the Oval Test against
West Indies in 1984. He took 2-96 in the second innings, his victims
being Gordon Greenidge and Viv Richards. At Lord's v. Sri Lanka he had
the wickets of Aravinder de Silva and Arjuna Ranatunga for the high cost
of 123. He toured India in 1984-85 without playing a Test and was
discarded for good after failing to take a wicket against Australia at
Old Trafford in 1985. (Bob Harragan)
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