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Follow UsAjit Agarkar - 109* against England in 2002
What’s that one thing that Ajit Agarkar has that Sachin Tendulkar doesn’t?
Of course, a Test century at Lord’s and a name on the Lord’s honours board. It was against a bowling unit that comprised Matthew Hoggard, Simon Jones, Ashley Giles and Andrew Flintoff. While Agarkar could only score two off nine balls in the first innings, his batting in the second innings was truly a masterclass.
With a target of 568, India were staring at an abysmal score of 170/6. Then came Agarkar. The right-hander smacked a counter-attacking 109 off 190 balls, scoring 16 boundaries. What’s more astonishing about his knock was how he not only drove Flintoff but also put on a show against Ashley Giles and Michael Vaughan.
Many consider this knock unlucky not to have earned a draw at Lord’s.
Stuart Broad - 169 against Pakistan in 2010
Stuart Broad and the 169 against Pakistan.
You just had to be there before his batting was stalled after a hit against Varun Aaron. The left-hander walked out to bat at No.8 and was at his absolute best alongside Jonathan Trott.
After Mohammad Amir ran through the English middle order, with the wickets of Kevin Pietersen, Paul Collingwood, Eoin Morgan, Matt Prior, and Graeme Swann, Broad was on duty to help the hosts, who were struggling at 102/7.
The left-hander smacked 169 off 297 deliveries, with 18 fours and one six. Broad ran the Pakistani bowling unit ragged during that knock and put on a 332-run partnership alongside Jonathan Trott before Broad holed out. It, to date, is one of the best innings for a batter lower down the order.
Chris Woakes - 137 against India in 2018
A Test century is fine, but a Test century against India at Lord’s? That’s Chris Woakes for you.
England found themselves in all sorts of trouble at 131/5 when Woakes walked out to bat. The all-rounder first forged a partnership with Jonny Bairstow (93) for an 189-run partnership. Woakes then put up another partnership with Sam Curran before eventually scoring a Test century, his first at Lord’s.
Woakes averages 32.54 at home, but his only century to date came against India in a series that quickly slipped away from the Men in Blue’s hands. It was 137, one for the ages.
Jacob Oram - 101 against England in 2008
If not for Jacob Oram, New Zealand would have probably stared at a defeat at Lord’s in the 1st Test of the England series in 2008.
After New Zealand scored 277 in their first innings, England put 319 runs in reply before the Blackcaps found themselves in a bit of trouble. That’s when Oram entered and scored a 121-ball 101, with 15 fours and two sixes.
It is Oram’s only Test century in England, and what better venue than Lord’s to bring that up?
Gus Atkinson - 118 against Sri Lanka in 2024
At 216/6, England were in a muddy position, but that’s when Gus Atkinson walked out to show the world what he’s made of. Atkinson was at his aggressive best during his stay at the crease, with a six against Prabath Jayasuriya, showing his intent.
Atkinson later drove through the backward point region for a four against Asitha Fernando. But as the innings progressed, it started becoming clear that he was trying to amp the strike rate up.
It was an innings filled with intent, scoring a century off just 103 balls, with 11 fours and four sixes. All of this in his maiden Test summer with the national team. Talk about breaking records; Atkinson is right up there.
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