Jonathan Agnew MBE

Jonathan Agnew MBE  is a Former Leicestershire and England Cricketer.

Agnew made his first-class debut for Leicestershire in 1978 after impressing in local club cricket.

A fast bowler with the ability to swing the ball, 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.

During the 1980’s ‘Aggers’ played three Test Matches and three One Day Internationals for England before taking up his position in the commentary box.

In 1987, Agnew began work with BBC Radio Leicester, in 1988 wrote an entertaining book on the life of a county pro – Eight Days A Week.

He retired at the end of the 1990 season to become chief cricket writer of the Today newspaper, and was appointed BBC Cricket Correspondent at the start of the 1991 season.

Agnew made his ball-by-ball commentary debut for the final Test of the 1991 season, enjoying the chance to get his tongue round the names of the Sri Lankan cricketers.

He was also the catalyst to Brian Johnston’s infamous fit of the giggles after Ian Botham was out hit wicket – after failing to get “his leg over” which has been voted “the greatest piece of sporting commentary ever” in a BBC poll.

Jonathan Agnew is one of the mainstays of Test Match Special and writes regularly for the BBC Sport website.