Aggers entertains Members

“Leicestershire versus Kent in 1985 - does anybody remember the significance?” said Jonathan Agnew to open proceedings at an Exclusive Members event before the latest meeting between the counties at Grace Road.

“You took 9-70” came the reply from member Phil Crane. “I was talking about it earlier but just couldn’t remember the batsman you didn’t get out.”

“It was Kevin Jarvis, who wasn’t the best batsman – he was even worse than dear old Les Taylor,” said Agnew. “Paddy Clift bowled as wide as he could to Neil Taylor, who carried his bat, to give me a chance of getting all ten but I just couldn’t do it. Jarvo pinched a single at my end and Paddy then get him out.”

Agnew went on to speak about playing under David Gower and Peter Willey, and what it was like to be a nightwatchman, including successive games where he faced West Indies duo Malcolm Marshall at Grace Road and Michael Holding at Chesterfield.

The Test Match Special broadcaster also recollected the time when he made a famous comeback in the NatWest semi-final for Leicestershire against Essex – two years after he retired from playing.

He said: “I actually commentated on the club’s quarter-final and had interviewed Graham Gooch, the then Essex captain, shortly before I got a call from Nigel Briers.

“Nigel said we had an injury crisis and I laughed and said that I hadn’t bowled for two years. But he was being deadly serious and said he didn’t care if I went for 100 and dropped three catches, he wanted me to play.

“In fact I didn’t even have a net before the game because of fear I’d stiffen up when the game got here. So I just caught a few balls in fielding practice and away I went.

“Thankfully Winston Benjamin got Goochie out early so I didn’t have to bowl to him, and that also brought Nasser Hussain to the wicket. Nasser was a fine batsman but he very combative and intense, so there was no way he was getting out to me – he pretty much blocked it for 12 overs!

“I ended with 1-30-odd as Jon Lewis, who moved on to Durham, nicked a wide half-volley and Paul Nixon took the catch behind.

“I very nearly got the call for the final too. I was commentating again at Lord’s and Nigel was waving frantically up to the box. I went downstairs and he said: ‘David Millns has broken down. Have you got your kit?’

“The reply was along the lines of ‘there’s no way I’m playing again’ and it was good I said that, because it was a drawn-out final and Leicestershire ended up losing.”

Agnew also spoke about the forthcoming Ashes series, which he thinks will be close. “Australia haven’t won here for 14 years and they want to,” he said.

“But if England can avoid going 1-0 behind they may well come up on the blindside. That is the position they start in. It will be interesting to see what pitches they play on, because Graeme Swann bowled so well the last time they were here.”

* Thanks to all Members who came along to the event and to Jonathan for kindly giving his time ahead of a busy Ashes series. It is the start of a number of events that we will be running for our Members in the future.

* Many thanks to Ed Melia for the photograph of Jonathan.