Jonathan Agnew
International Cricketer, After Dinner Speaker and Match Day Host, Radio Presenter
Jonathan Agnew (Nicknamed Aggers) is an English cricket broadcaster and former professional cricketer. He was born in Macclesfield, Cheshire on 4 April, 1960 and educated at Uppingham School.
Agnew had a successful first-class career as a fast bowler for Leicestershire, taking 666 wickets at an average of 29.25 and winning three Test caps for England.
Since retiring as a player, Agnew has become a cricket journalist across a variety of media, but most notably on radio, as a Test Match Special commentator and as a BBC radio cricket correspondent. An on-air incident in tandem with Brian Johnston has been voted "the greatest piece of sporting commentary ever" in a BBC poll.
Capable of bowling quickly in suitable conditions, Agnew made his first-class debut for Leicestershire in 1978 after impressing in local club cricket. He took 101 wickets in the 1987 season for his county. His best first-class bowling figures were 9 for 70 and he took six ten-wicket hauls in 218 matches.
He was selected as one of five Wisden Cricketers of the Year in 1988 as reward for a fine season for Leicestershire, although by this stage his England career had ended after disappointing in the three Test matches and three One Day Internationals (ODI's) he'd played in the mid 1980s. His last Test was only 12 months after his first and his last ODI was only one month after his first.
With his height and pace, he had useful attributes for a fast bowler. In his book 8 days a week (1988), Agnew gave his opinion that it was the huge workload faced by county fast bowlers during the 1980s that limited his international appearances and ended his career early; Agnew retired at the age of 30.
In 1992, two years after Agnew retired; Leicestershire experienced an injury crisis before their NatWest Trophy semi-final against Essex. Agnew was called out of retirement and finished the match with figures of 12-2-31-1. Leicestershire won the match, but Agnew chose not to play in the final.
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