Ajit Agarkar born as Ajit Bhalchandra Agarkar on December 4th, 1977 in Mumbai is an outstanding Indian cricketer. He is a right-arm fast medium bowler and a right-handed lower order batsman.
Ajit Agarkar made his One-day debut in April 1998 in Kochi against Australia and Test debut in October 1998 against Zimbabwe at Harare. Agarkar to his credit has the fastest 50-wicket scalps in One-day games. He also holds the record of scalping 200 wickets and scoring 1000 runs from the least number of ODI games - 133. In 2002, coming at #8 Ajit Agarkar made an unbeaten Test century at Lords. This tail-ender batsman also holds the record of fastest ODI half-century in just 21 balls against Zimbabwe.
As a bowler Ajit Agarkar scalped 58 Test wickets from a mere 26 matches and captured nearly 288 One-day wickets from over 190 matches. Sadly due to his poor form Ajit Agarkar has been in and out of the team on several occasions. Ajit Agarkar is married to Fatima Ghadially and has a son named Raj.
Paul Collingwood born as Paul David Collingwood to parents David and Janet on May 26th, 1976 in Shotley Bridge, Durham is one of the finest English cricketer. He made his One-day debut against Pakistan in July 2001 and Test debut against Sri Lanka in December of 2003. Collingwood is a right-handed batsman and a right-arm medium fast bowler. He is also an excellent fielder.
Paul Collingwood is married to Vicki and they together have a daughter named Shannon born in September of 2006. He was awarded the MBE in 2006 New Year's Honors List.
Paul Collingwood has played over 25 Tests and scored 5 centuries including a double-century. He has also 4 ODI centuries to his credit. Paul Collingwood also holds the record of scoring 1000 plus runs in a calendar year in 2006.
His brilliant back-to-back One-day centuries against Australia helped his side clinch the CB series in 2006-07. Finally Collingwood donned the skipper's cap for England in June 2007.
Kevin Pietersen born as Kevin Peter Pietersen on June 27th, 1980 in Pietermaritzburg, Natal, South Africa is a spectacular English cricketer. He is an aggressive attacking batsman, who holds the distinction of being the fastest to reach both 1000 and 2000 runs in One-day games. His rapid rise to third place in the ICC rankings is proof enough of his incredible batting talents.
Born of a South African father and an English mother, Kevin Pietersen grew up playing cricket while attending college in his hometown Natal's B team, until he was sidelined and dropped on grounds of racial system. Frustrated at being victimized on racial grounds, Kevin Pietersen shifted to England.
Soon he demonstrated his cricketing talents in England while playing for Birmingham Cricket League, and Nottinghamshire and Hampshire. Finally he made his ODI debut on November 28th, 2004 against Zimbabwe at Harare and made his Test debut against Australia at Lord's on July 21st, 2005.
His 2005 trip to South Africa with the English touring side has all the traits of a movie-thriller. When Pietersen came to bat, the South African crowd heckled and booed him down calling him traitor... traitor… trying to rob his concentration. Undaunted by the hostile reception, Kevin Pietersen suitably reciprocated the reception with his bat scoring 454 runs in just five innings and turned the hostility of the home crowd into that of an endearing love for him. The South African crowd ultimately gave a standing ovation when he made his final century.
So far this wonderful batting prodigy scored more than 2800 runs in Tests and 2300 runs in ODI. He has scored 10 Test centuries and 5 One-day centuries.
Andrew Flintoff born on December 6th, 1977 in Preston, Lancashire is an outstanding English cricketer. Flintoff is a right-arm fast bowler and an aggressive right-handed batsman and is considered an all-rounder. Andrew Flintoff was knighted the Order of the British Empire and received his MBE in 2006. He was also named the Wisden Cricketer of the Year in 2004 and won Wisden Leading Cricketer in the World in 2006. Andrew Flintoff is the son of cricketer Colin Flintoff. Interestingly, Andrew Flintoff is nicknamed after the fictional character, 'Fred Flintstone' of the popular television animated series, 'The Flintstones'. He is fondly called "Freddie" or "Fred". Andrew Flintoff made his Test debut on July 23rd, 1998 against South Africa at Nottingham and made his ODI debut on April 21st, 1999 against Pakistan at Sharjah. He is a hard hitter of the ball and exploits his colossal 6' 4" frame to bowl at 90mph plus. In 2002, Andrew Flintoff scored his maiden Test century against New Zealand at Christchurch and went on to score two more centuries consecutively, one in 2003 against South Africa at Lords and another at Antigua against West Indies in 2004. He also took five wickets at Barbados Test against West Indies. Playing in 2nd Test at Edgbaston in 2005 August, Flintoff broke Ian Botham's 1981 record haul of six 6s in an Ashes Test by scoring five 6s in 1st innings and 4 in 2nd innings. Throughout the 2005 Ashes Series, Flintoff maintained his excellent form and was a natural choice for the "Man of the Series Award". In December 2005, Flintoff won the 'BBC Sports Personality of the Year Award' and thus became the only cricketer to win he award since Ian Botham in 1981. In 2006, Andrew Flintoff donned the captaincy for England. Leading his side against India from the front he played magnificently on Indian soil and grabbed 11 wickets and scored four fifties in six innings and finally drew the 2006 Test series with India. Despite his ankle problem aggravating, Flintoff played the 2006 ICC champions Trophy as a specialist batsman. Andrew Flintoff married Rachael Wools on March 5th, 2005. They together they have a daughter named Holly [born September 2004] and a son named Corey [born March 2006]. Their third child is due to arrive in April of 2008.
Ajit Agarkar born as Ajit Bhalchandra Agarkar on December 4th, 1977 in Mumbai is an outstanding Indian cricketer. He is a right-arm fast medium bowler and a right-handed lower order batsman.
