More to come, says Agarkar's mother

Seven consecutive 'ducks' against the Australians in 2000-01 and now a century at Lord's! Indeed, Ajit Agarkar has come a long way.

The Mumbai cricketer's career so far has been nothing short of a roller-coaster ride. Eight of the 12 Tests he has played in have been abroad, where even the best Indian batsmen have faltered. The fastest bowler to 50 wickets in One-Day Internationals, Agarkar had suffered a loss of form and even found himself out of the ODI team for a while. In Tests, too, his bowling average of 41 had most critics doubting his ability as a bowler, let alone as an all-rounder.

But his mother, Meena, feels Monday's hundred in the first Test against England, which India lost by 170 runs, at Lord's, is just the beginning of more laurels for her son.

"We expect him to do well from now on. Naturally, I am very happy that he has scored the century," she said, after watching on television his dogged 109, which delayed England's victory celebrations on day 5 of the Test.

"The neighbours, his uncles, everyone is here. We will distribute sweets later," she added

Asked whether her son had planned anything specific for the match, she said: "You cannot say anything in cricket. Anything can happen; you always have to try to do well."

Agarkar's last signifcant contribution with the bat in the Test arena was a knock of 41 runs, in the first Test against the South Africans in Mumbai, when they last visted India in 1999/00. India lost the Test.

At Lord's too, on Monday, India ended up on the losing side despite his valiant knock. Having picked just three wickets -- two in the first and one in the second innings -- in the match, it now remains to be seen whether his superb century can help him retain his place in the side for the second Test, at Nottingham, from August 8 to 12.