Ajit Agarkar Century - (Source :@Johns/X.com)
On Saturday, July 12, KL Rahul scripted history as the right-handed batter smashed his second century at Lord's. The 33-year-old scored a hundred in the ongoing Test at the Home of Cricket. Rahul became the second Indian after Dilip Vengsarkar to score multiple centuries at Lord's.
While Rahul has now scored hundreds at Lord's, this article looks at five unexpected names present on the Lord's batting honours board.
1. Ajit Agarkar
Ten Indians have their names etched on the Lord's batting honours board, and Ajit Agarkar is one of them. The former India bowler, who currently serves as India's chief selector, stunned the cricket world with a memorable knock in 2002.
In the series opener between India and England at Lord's in 2002, Agarkar played a crucial innings of an unbeaten 109 off 190 balls, which included 16 fours. India were chasing 568, and Agarkar's knock helped the visitors avoid complete embarrassment, but it couldn't save them from defeat.
2. Gus Atkinson
Gus Atkinson made his England Test debut in July 2024 and wasted no time getting his name on the Lord's honours board. The historic moment came during the 2nd Test between England and Sri Lanka, where Atkinson followed in Joe Root's footsteps and scored 118 off 115 balls.
Interestingly, it was Atkinson's second Test series in his career and also the first first-class century.
3. Stuart Broad
Stuart Broad is another bowler who has made it to the Lord's honours board. The remarkable feat came against Pakistan in 2010, in the fourth Test of the series, when Broad scored a stunning 169 off 297 balls. Notably, England were 102/7, but Broad produced a counterattacking century that helped the hosts post 446 runs.
Broad went onto break a plethora of records with his century as he also completed 100 wickets at this venue.
4. Jacob Oram
England and New Zealand faced off in the 1st Test in 2008, where Jacob Oram scored 101 off 121 balls and helped the Kiwis draw the match. His attacking hundred was a standout performance in a hard-fought contest.
The New Zealand star has five Test centuries to his name but the Lord's one will be special.
5. Chris Woakes
Chris Woakes scored a century at Lord's against India in the 2018 series, playing a crucial 137-run knock that helped England register a win by an innings and 159 runs. It was the second Test of the series and Woakes won the player of the match award for also taking four wickets in that game.
