5 surprising names to feature on the Lord's honours board

The prestigious honours board at the Lord’s pavillionIt is every cricketer’s dream to score a hundred or take a 5-wicket haul, at the Mecca of world cricket-The Lord’s. The names of few great cricketers have proudly been displayed on the Lord’s honours board, by virtue of either scoring a brilliant century or for their wicket taking spree.While most names aren’t uncommon, it is however, surprising to note that some of the best players to have ever graced the game like Sachin Tendulkar, Brain Lara or even Shane Warne have missed out on this unique honour in their careers.Even more strangely, there are have been some very unlikely cricketers who have performed exceptionally well at Lord’s to get their names etched on the prestigious board. Here’s a short list of a few such cricketers:

#1 Ajit Agarkar

Agarkar scored his only Test century at Lord’s

Ajit Agarkar’s name on the honours board, may have any cricket fan thinking about his bowling spells. However, remarkably, Agarkar features in this unique list because of his classy hundred he scored against hosts England in 2002.

Prior to playing this Test match, Agarkar’s highest Test score was just 41. Chasing England’s mammoth target of 568, India were reeling at 170/6 when Agarkar walked to the middle, and played the innings of his life.

India eventually lost the match, but for one man, this Test turned to be his luckiest and most memorable, having his name proudly featured on the batting honours board.

#2 Shahadat Hossain

Hossain became the first Bangladeshi cricketer to feature on the honours board

The troubled Bangladeshi bowler Shahadat Hossain created history in 2010, when he became the first Bangladeshi cricketer to have his name on the honours board at Lord’s. Despite his brave effort of 5/98 in the first innings, England still managed to score 505 runs.

In the same match, Hossain’s teammate Tamim Iqbal too had the same unique honour of having his name displayed on the batting section of the honours board, when he scored a classy hundred in Bangaldesh’s second innings.

Yet, the valiant effort of these cricketers came in the losing cause, as England won the match by 8 wickets,

#3 Stuart Broad

Stuart Broad celebrates his 100 against Pakistan in Lord’s

Stuart Broad features in this unique list not because of his bowling exploits, but for his famous century against Pakistan at Lord’s back in 2010. Broad is also only the eighth player in history to feature on both the batting and the bowling honours board.

To feature among many prominent batting legends on the board, was something even his father hadn’t achieved as an opening batsman. The bowler hit a fine knock of 169, his highest ever Test score, as England crushed Pakistan by an innings and 225 runs.

#4 Trevor Franklin

Trevor Franklin played a gem of an innings at Lord’s

New Zealand cricketer Trevor Franklin’s inclusion on the Lord’s honours board is surprising because of the fact that he averaged a mere 23, in the 21 Tests he played. What’s more surprising is that his hundred at Lord’s in 1990, was his first and the last one in his career.

In the very same match, his teammate and former Indian coach John Wright, agonisingly missed out on his ton ,as he was dismissed for a painful 98. The Kiwis largely dominated that particular Test, but England managed to salvage a draw.

#5 Ravi Bopara

Bopara shone in the limited opportunities he got

Compared to his exceptional limited-over exploits, Ravi Bopara did get very little chances to represent the 3 lions in the longest format of the game. But in those few rare opportunities he got, the all-rounder has hit 575 runs at an average of close to 32.

In just his 5th Test match against West Indies back in 2009, Bopara played a wonderful knock of 143, coming in at the crucial number 3 spot, and thus etched his name among the many batting legends on the Lord’s honours board. England, thrashed the visitors by 10 wickets in that match.