Editing Jonathan Agnew (section)

==Playing career==

===Background and early years===
Agnew was born on 4 April 1960 at West Park Hospital in [[Macclesfield]], [[Cheshire]], to Margaret (''née'' McConnell) and Philip Agnew.<ref>{{cite news |date=6 April 1960 |title=Births |newspaper=[[The Times]] |location=London |number=54739 |page=1}}</ref><ref name="Cricinfo">{{cite web| url = http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/content/player/8501.html| title = Jonathan Agnew| publisher = ESPN| work = [[ESPNcricinfo]]| access-date = 3 August 2011| archive-date = 23 December 2011| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20111223092334/http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/content/player/8501.html| url-status = live}}</ref> His parents' forthcoming marriage was announced in ''[[The Times]]'' in 1957: Philip Agnew was described as "the only son of Mr and Mrs Norris M. Agnew of [[Dukenfield Hall]], [[Mobberley]], [[Cheshire]]" and Margaret as "youngest daughter of Mr and Mrs A.F.V. McConnell of [[Hampton Hall, Worthen|Hampton Hall]], [[Worthen]], [[Shropshire]]".<ref>{{cite news| title = Forthcoming marriages | newspaper = [[The Times]] |issue = 53806 | page = 12 | location = London | date = 3 April 1957}}</ref> The Agnews had a second son in June 1962 and were recorded as living at "[[Bainton, Cambridgeshire|Bainton]] near [[Stamford, Lincolnshire|Stamford]], Lincs"; in April 1966, a daughter, Felicity, was born and was announced as "a sister for Jonathan and Christopher".<ref>{{cite news| title = Births | newspaper = [[The Times]] |issue = 55423 | page = 1 | location = London | date = 21 June 1962 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news| title = Births | newspaper = [[The Times]] |issue = 56607 | page = 1 | location = London | date = 16 April 1966 }}</ref> Agnew's paternal grandmother, Lady Mona Agnew, died aged 110 years and 170 days in 2010 and was on the [[List of British supercentenarians|list of the 100 longest-lived British people ever]].<ref>{{Cite news | url = http://announcements.telegraph.co.uk/deaths/117930/agnew | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120605183441/http://announcements.telegraph.co.uk/deaths/117930/agnew | url-status = dead | archive-date = 5 June 2012 |  work = [[The Daily Telegraph]] | location= London | title = Death Announcements | access-date =20 December 2011}}</ref>

Jonathan Agnew recalls growing up on the family farm and first becoming aware of cricket aged "eight or nine"; his father would carry a radio around and listen to ''[[Test Match Special]]'':

<blockquote>"The programme sparked an interest in me, in the same way it has in so many tens of thousands of children down the years, igniting a passion that lasts a lifetime."<ref name=page7>Agnew. ''Thanks, Johnners''. p. 7</ref></blockquote>

Driven by early enjoyment of the media coverage of cricket, Agnew developed a love for playing the game. At the end of days spent watching cricket on television in a blacked-out room with the commentary provided by the radio, Agnew would go into the garden and practise his bowling for hours, trying to imitate the players he had seen.<ref>Agnew. ''Thanks, Johnners''. p. 8</ref> Agnew's father, an amateur cricketer, taught him the rudiments of the sport, including an [[offspin]] action, as he wanted his son to develop into a bowler like him.<ref name=page7/> Another family connection to cricket was his first cousin, [[Mary Duggan]], who was a women's Test player for [[England women's cricket team|England]] from 1948 to 1963.<ref name="Who">{{Cite book | editor1-first= Iain | editor1-last= Sproat | title = The Cricketers' Who's Who | date= 4 April 1991 | edition = 1991 | publisher = Collins Willow | isbn = 0-00-218396-X | page = 11}}</ref>

From the age of eight, Agnew [[boarding school|boarded]] at [[Taverham Hall School]] near [[Norwich]].<ref>Agnew. ''Thanks, Johnners''. p. 10</ref> His first cricket coach was Eileen Ryder and, according to Agnew, after "a couple of years"<ref name=page11/> a professional arrived at the school: [[Ken Taylor (cricketer, born 1935)|Ken Taylor]], a former batsman for [[Yorkshire County Cricket Club|Yorkshire]] who had played three Tests for [[England cricket team|England]] in the late 1950s and early 1960s.<ref name=page11>Agnew. ''Thanks, Johnners''. p. 11</ref> In 1971, aged 11, Agnew attended the [[1971_Gillette_Cup#Final|Gillete Cup Final]], and was inspired by [[Peter Lever]], a fast bowler: "I saw a fast bowler running in from the Nursery End. I'd never seen anything like it. I turned to my dad and said: "That's who I want to be." It was Peter Lever. There was something about the way he bowled. The energy, the run-up. It lit a spark under me and, from that moment on, I was Peter Lever. My dad wanted me to be an off-spinner, like him, but there was no chance after I'd seen Peter bowl. I copied his action and he was everywhere in my life as I grew up."<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/articles/c8d4v5vzzjyo | title=Peter Lever: Former Lancashire and England bowler dies aged 84 | date=27 March 2025 }}</ref>

Agnew attended [[Uppingham School]] for his secondary education,<ref name="Cricinfo"/> and left in 1978 with nine [[O-levels]] and two [[A-levels]] in German and English.<ref name="Who"/> From the age of 16 he developed his skills as a right-arm [[Fast bowling|fast bowler]] out of school hours at [[Alf Gover]]'s cricket school whilst at [[Surrey County Cricket Club]].<ref name="COY">{{cite web | url = http://www.espncricinfo.com/wisdenalmanack/content/story/154442.html | publisher = ESPN | work = [[Wisden Cricketers' Almanack]] | title = Cricketer of the Year, 1988 : Jonathan Agnew | access-date = 3 August 2011 | archive-date = 15 June 2012 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120615232913/http://www.espncricinfo.com/wisdenalmanack/content/story/154442.html | url-status = live }}</ref> That summer, he saw fast bowler [[Michael Holding]] take 14 [[Wickets taken|wickets]] in the [[West Indian cricket team in England in 1976#Fifth Test|1976 Oval Test match]], a performance of pace bowling referred to as "devastating" by cricket writer [[Norman Preston]],<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/content/story/152088.html| publisher = [[ESPNcricinfo]]| access-date = 23 November 2011| title = England v West Indies| first = Norman| last = Preston| archive-date = 13 February 2012| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120213060902/http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/content/story/152088.html| url-status = live}}</ref> which made a lasting impression on Agnew.<ref>{{Cite book| url = https://archive.org/details/pommiesenglandcr0000buck| url-access = registration| quote = jonathan agnew.| title = Pommies: England Cricket Through an Australian Lens|first=William|last=Buckland|page=[https://archive.org/details/pommiesenglandcr0000buck/page/273 273]|isbn=978-1-906510-32-9| publisher=Matador| date = 14 April 2008}}</ref> More than 30 years later he wrote of his bowling during his schooldays:

<blockquote>"For an eighteen-year-old bowler I was unusually fast, and enjoyed terrorising our opponents, be they schoolboys (8 wickets for 2 runs and 7 for 11 stick in the memory) or, better still, the teachers in the annual staff match. This, I gather, used to be a friendly affair until I turned up, and I relished the chance to settle a few scores on behalf of my friends – for whom I was the equivalent of a hired assassin – as well as for myself."<ref name=page35>Agnew. ''Thanks, Johnners''. p. 35</ref></blockquote>

Having played for Surrey under-19s the previous year,<ref name=liew>{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2022/oct/23/jonathan-liew-meets-jonathan-agnew |title='So yeah, I wrote this piece …' Jonathan Liew meets Jonathan Agnew |last=Liew |first=Jonathan |author-link=Jonathan Liew |date=23 October 2022 |website=[[theguardian.com]]|access-date=23 October 2022}}</ref> he began playing for Surrey's [[Second XI Championship|second XI]] in 1977,<ref>{{cite web | url =https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/1/1759/Second_Eleven_Championship_Matches.html | publisher =CricketArchive | access-date =3 August 2011 | title =Second Eleven Championship Matches played by Jonathan Agnew | archive-date =8 November 2012 | archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20121108201610/http://www.cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/1/1759/Second_Eleven_Championship_Matches.html | url-status =live }}</ref> but Surrey made no move to sign him as a player. At a home match against [[Hampshire County Cricket Club|Hampshire]], the teenage Agnew was the only player to stand up to then Surrey coach and former England player [[Fred Titmus]] after the latter racially abused the Guyanese-born Surrey player [[Lonsdale Skinner]], an incident of which Agnew later said: "The consequences hadn’t really dawned on me. But clearly it was a career-ender".<ref name=liew /><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2020/jul/26/lonsdale-skinner-most-racism-committee-room-cricket-interview |title=Lonsdale Skinner:'Most of the racism came from the committee room'|last=Ronay |first=Barney |author-link=Barney Ronay|date=26 July 2020|website=[[theguardian.com]]|access-date=23 October 2022}}</ref> [[Leicestershire County Cricket Club]] did, however, take note of Agnew's impressive performances in local club cricket and for Uppingham School, for whom he took 37 wickets at a [[bowling average]] of 8 in 1977,<ref name="Cricinfo"/> and signed him while he was still a schoolboy in time for the [[1978 English cricket season|1978 season]].<ref name=page35/>

===County cricket===
On his [[first-class cricket|first-class]] debut against [[Lancashire County Cricket Club|Lancashire]] in August 1978,<ref name="list">{{cite web| url = https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/1/1759/First-Class_Matches.html| publisher = CricketArchive| access-date = 3 August 2011| title = First Class matches played by Jonathan Agnew| archive-date = 29 August 2011| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110829024505/http://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/1/1759/First-Class_Matches.html| url-status = live}}</ref> the 18-year-old Agnew bowled to [[England cricket team|England international]] [[David Lloyd (cricketer)|David Lloyd]], an [[opening batsman]] with nine [[Test cricket|Test]] [[cap (sport)|caps]].<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/content/player/16318.html| title = David Lloyd| publisher = [[ESPNcricinfo]]| access-date = 2 November 2011| archive-date = 14 November 2011| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20111114131455/http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/content/player/16318.html| url-status = live}}</ref> Reported in ''[[Wisden Cricketers' Almanack]]'', Lloyd "was halfway through a forward defensive push when his [[stump (cricket)|off stump]] was despatched halfway towards the Leicestershire [[wicket-keeper]]."<ref name="COY"/> Agnew took one [[Wickets taken|wicket]] in each innings of the match, and did not bat; Leicestershire won by an innings.<ref>{{cite web| url = https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/38/38493.html| publisher = CricketArchive| access-date = 3 August 2011| title = Leicestershire v Lancashire in 1979| archive-date = 3 February 2012| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120203124304/http://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/38/38493.html| url-status = live}}</ref>

Agnew won a [[Whitbread Brewery]] award at the end of his debut season, an achievement he ascribes to the influence of his county captain, [[Ray Illingworth]]:<ref>Agnew. ''Thanks, Johnners'', p. 38</ref> he had taken only six first-class wickets at an average of 35.<ref>{{cite web| url = https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/1/1759/f_Bowling_by_Season.html| title = First-class Bowling in each season by Jon Agnew| access-date = 11 November 2011| publisher = CricketArchive| archive-date = 8 November 2012| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20121108205553/http://www.cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/1/1759/f_Bowling_by_Season.html| url-status = live}}</ref> Illingworth was quoted in ''The Times'' as saying that Agnew was "the second fastest bowler" in England in 1978, behind only [[Bob Willis]].<ref name="Tyson">{{cite news| title = Young fast bowler to be coached by Tyson | newspaper = [[The Times]] |issue = 60416 | page = 13 | location = London | date = 26 September 1978}}</ref> The award afforded him the opportunity to spend a winter in Australia developing his skills, alongside fellow winners [[Mike Gatting]], [[Wayne Larkins]] and [[Chris Tavaré]],<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.espncricinfo.com/wisdenalmanack/content/story/154183.html| publisher = ESPN| work = [[Wisden Cricketers' Almanack]]| title = Curbing the bouncer, and more 1979 – Notes by the Editor| first = Norman| last = Preston| access-date = 3 August 2011| archive-date = 13 November 2012| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20121113125443/http://www.espncricinfo.com/wisdenalmanack/content/story/154183.html| url-status = live}}</ref> and to be coached by former England fast bowler, [[Frank Tyson]].<ref name="Tyson"/> All four went on to play Test cricket.{{refn|Agnew played three times for England. The others played 79, 13 and 31 Tests respectively.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/records/averages/batting.html?class=1;id=1;type=team |title=Records / England / Test matches / Batting averages |access-date=8 August 2011 |publisher=ESPN |work=[[ESPNcricinfo]] |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121005002703/http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/records/averages/batting.html?class=1%3Bid%3D1%3Btype%3Dteam |archive-date=5 October 2012 }}</ref>|group=note}} On that Australia tour, Agnew played his only youth Test, but made headlines when invited to bowl at [[English cricket team in Australia in 1978–79|the touring England team]] in the [[cricket nets|nets]]:
<blockquote>"He struck the captain, [[Mike Brearley]], a nasty blow in the face. It was, Agnew recalls, merely a gentle delivery off two paces that flew off a wet patch; but it did not deter the headline writers. Such early publicity did him no favours, but when a bowler arrives who is young, fast and English, a quiet settling-in period to one of the more difficult apprenticeships in sport is often denied him." – ''[[Wisden Cricketers' Almanack|Wisden]]''<ref name="COY"/></blockquote>

Agnew's 1979 season was disrupted by injury. The Editor's Notes of the 1980 ''[[Wisden Cricketers' Almanack]]'' reported, under the heading "England's Promising Youngsters", that Agnew had strengthened himself over the winter by felling trees.<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.espncricinfo.com/wisdenalmanack/content/story/154185.html| publisher = ESPN| work = [[Wisden Cricketers' Almanack]]| title = Recodification of the laws and more, 1980 – Notes by the Editor| access-date = 3 August 2011| first = Norman| last = Preston| archive-date = 13 November 2012| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20121113125450/http://www.espncricinfo.com/wisdenalmanack/content/story/154185.html| url-status = live}}</ref> Agnew's own account is that 1979–80 was "the worst winter of his life", although his recollection is that he spent it working as a lorry driver.<ref name="media">{{Cite news | url = https://www.independent.co.uk/news/media/jonathan-agnew-my-life-in-media-500072.html | archive-url = https://archive.today/20090320021414/http://independent.co.uk/news/media/jonathan-agnew-my-life-in-media-500072.html | archive-date = 20 March 2009 |title=Jonathan Agnew: My Life in Media | work=[[The Independent]] | location = London | access-date =10 August 2011 | url-status = dead | date = 25 July 2005}}</ref> He did, however, make his [[List A cricket|List A]] [[limited overs cricket|limited overs]] debut in 1979, playing just once, against the [[Sri Lankan cricket team in England in 1979|Sri Lanka touring team]] – his competitive List A debut followed in 1980, in the [[Benson & Hedges Cup]] against [[Scotland national cricket team|Scotland]]:<ref>{{cite web| title = List A Matches played by Jon Agnew| publisher = CricketArchive| access-date = 11 November 2011| url = https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/1/1759/List_A_Matches.html| archive-date = 28 March 2016| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160328104748/http://www.cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/1/1759/List_A_Matches.html| url-status = live}}</ref> he bowled just three overs (for five runs) and did not bat.<ref>{{cite web | title = Scotland v Leicestershire – Benson and Hedges Cup 1980 (Group A) | publisher = CricketArchive | access-date = 11 November 2011 | url = https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/40/40070.html | archive-date = 22 November 2008 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20081122031842/http://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/40/40070.html | url-status = live }}</ref>

===Test cricket===
[[File:Sir Vivian Richards.jpg|left|thumb|Future [[List of West Indies cricket captains|captain of West Indies]], [[Viv Richards]], was the second player Agnew dismissed in his Test career.|alt=A bald black man in a suit, white shirt and pink tie, smiling and being interviewed by a female in glasses]]
Agnew's career did not initially live up to his early promise. In his first six seasons as a first-class cricketer, his largest haul of wickets was 31 in 1980.<ref name="years">{{cite web| title = First Class bowling each season by Jonathan Agnew| publisher = CricketArchive| access-date = 4 August 2011| url = https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/1/1759/f_Bowling_by_Season.html| archive-date = 8 November 2012| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20121108205553/http://www.cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/1/1759/f_Bowling_by_Season.html| url-status = live}}</ref> The [[1984 English cricket season|1984 season]] was his breakthrough year: he played 23 first-class matches,<ref>{{cite web| title = First Class batting each season by Jonathan Agnew| publisher = CricketArchive| access-date = 4 August 2011| url = https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/1/1759/f_Batting_by_Season.html| archive-date = 8 November 2012| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20121108205739/http://www.cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/1/1759/f_Batting_by_Season.html| url-status = live}}</ref> taking 84 wickets at an average of 28.72.<ref name="years"/> Playing in the warm-up game against [[Cambridge University cricket team|Cambridge University]], he achieved figures of 8–47 (taking 8 wickets while conceding 47 runs) from 20.4 overs and was included in the first team for the [[County Championship]] matches that followed.<ref>{{cite web| title = Cambridge University v Leicestershire| publisher = CricketArchive| access-date = 4 August 2011| url = https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/44/44560.html| archive-date = 8 November 2012| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20121108205800/http://www.cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/44/44560.html| url-status = live}}</ref>

He carried that success forward into the County Championship, picking up wickets for Leicestershire including a ten wicket match haul against [[Surrey County Cricket Club|Surrey]] in June,<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.cricketarchive.co.uk/Archive/Scorecards/44/44794.html| publisher = CricketArchive| access-date = 24 January 2012| title = Surrey v Leicestershire in 1984| archive-date = 4 March 2016| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160304043947/http://www.cricketarchive.co.uk/Archive/Scorecards/44/44794.html| url-status = live}}</ref> and five wickets in an innings against Kent in the days leading up to [[West Indian cricket team in England in 1984#Fifth Test|the fifth Test]] against [[West Indies cricket team|West Indies]].<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.cricketarchive.co.uk/Archive/Scorecards/45/45099.html| publisher = CricketArchive| access-date = 24 January 2012| title = Kent v Leicestershire in 1984| archive-date = 3 March 2016| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160303233838/http://www.cricketarchive.co.uk/Archive/Scorecards/45/45099.html| url-status = live}}</ref> The England selectors took note and, with the West Indies leading the series 4–0, Agnew and [[Richard Ellison (cricketer)|Richard Ellison]] were given debuts,<ref name="score">{{cite web| url = http://www.espncricinfo.com/wisdenalmanack/engine/match/63379.html| publisher = ESPN| work = [[ESPNcricinfo]]| access-date = 4 August 2011| title = The Wisden Trophy – 5th Test| archive-date = 13 November 2012| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20121113131337/http://www.espncricinfo.com/wisdenalmanack/engine/match/63379.html| url-status = live}}</ref> in an ultimately unsuccessful effort to avoid the "[[blackwash]]".<ref>{{cite news | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/in_depth/2000/england_v_west_indies/909979.stm | title = 31 years of hurt | work = BBC Sport | access-date = 26 January 2012 | date = 4 September 2000 | archive-date = 5 August 2017 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170805225117/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/in_depth/2000/england_v_west_indies/909979.stm | url-status = live }}</ref>

''Wisden'' describes how in the first innings, Agnew's accuracy was affected by debutant nerves,<ref name="first">{{cite web|url = http://www.espncricinfo.com/wisdenalmanack/content/story/152307.html|title = England v West Indies, 1984|publisher = ESPN|work = [[ESPNcricinfo]]|access-date = 4 August 2011|archive-date = 13 November 2012|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20121113131432/http://www.espncricinfo.com/wisdenalmanack/content/story/152307.html|url-status = live}}</ref> but an improved display in the second innings resulted in figures of 2–51.<ref name="score"/> Agnew describes how [[Ian Botham]] helped him secure both wickets, catching [[Gordon Greenidge]] in the [[slip fielder|slips]], and passing on some advice on how to dismiss [[Viv Richards]], Botham's great friend: "Botham said: 'Right. Don't pitch a single ball up at him. Have two men back for the hook, and bowl short every ball.' This I did for three overs or so, by which time Viv was looking a little exasperated, but was definitely on the back foot. Finally I pitched one up, the great man missed it and umpire [[David Constant]] ruled that Richards was [[leg before wicket|LBW]] for 15."<ref>Agnew. ''Thanks, Johnners''. p. 41</ref> ''Wisden'' called the pair of batsmen Agnew's "first illustrious victims in Test cricket".<ref name="first"/>

England's next match was [[Sri Lankan cricket team in England in 1984|a one-off home Test]] against [[Sri Lanka national cricket team|Sri Lanka]] and Agnew retained his place in the England team. At the time, Sri Lanka were regarded as the minnows of world cricket:<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.espncricinfo.com/srilanka/content/story/99888.html | title = CricInfo talks to Ravi Ratnayeke | first = Ragavan | last = Thuraisingam | access-date = 2 December 2011 | publisher = [[ESPNcricinfo]] | date = 3 January 2001 | archive-date = 4 April 2016 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160404235730/http://www.espncricinfo.com/srilanka/content/story/99888.html | url-status = live }}</ref> this was only their 12th Test match and their first at [[Lord's]],<ref name="rep">{{cite web| url = http://www.espncricinfo.com/wisdenalmanack/content/story/152308.html| work = [[Wisden Cricketers' Almanack]]| publisher = ESPN| access-date = 8 August 2011| title = England v Sri Lanka 1984| archive-date = 20 March 2011| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110320081726/http://www.espncricinfo.com/wisdenalmanack/content/story/152308.html| url-status = live}}</ref> but they dominated the match, taking a 121-run lead on first innings and declaring twice.<ref name="lank">{{cite web| url = https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/45/45189.html| access-date = 8 August 2011| publisher = CricketArchive| title = England v Sri Lanka in 1984| archive-date = 24 October 2012| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20121024060712/http://www.cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/45/45189.html| url-status = live}}</ref> It was a disappointment for England and, in a batsman-friendly match in which the Sri Lankans racked up 785 runs for just 14 wickets, Agnew suffered.  ''Wisden'' described England's pacemen as ineffective;<ref name="rep"/> Agnew's match figures were 2–177 off 43 overs.<ref name="lank"/> Poor performance and a muscle injury limited him to bowling a single over on the last day; later, Agnew reflected on other negative aspects of this match: "I felt a complete outsider, not part of the set-up. I think the feeling in the dressing room was that the game had been a bit of a cock-up."<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.espncricinfo.com/magazine/content/story/517641.html| title = Sri Lanka's impressive Lord's debut| access-date = 3 November 2011| date = 4 June 2011| first = Martin| last = Williamson| publisher = ESPN| work = [[ESPNcricinfo]]| archive-date = 11 November 2011| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20111111010430/http://www.espncricinfo.com/magazine/content/story/517641.html| url-status = live}}</ref>

England [[English cricket team in India and Sri Lanka in 1984–85|toured India and Sri Lanka]] that winter. Agnew replaced the injured Paul Allott after the second Test. However, he failed to be selected for a Test match, with England's decision to field two [[spin bowling|spinners]] ([[Pat Pocock]] and [[Phil Edmonds]]) in each Test playing a part in limiting Agnew's opportunities.<ref name="IndT">{{cite web | url = http://www.cricketarchive.co.uk/Archive/Events/IND/England_in_India_1984-85/t_England_Batting.html | publisher = CricketArchive | access-date = 10 August 2011 | title = Test batting and fielding for England – England in India 1984/85 | archive-date = 22 October 2012 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20121022090755/http://www.cricketarchive.co.uk/Archive/Events/IND/England_in_India_1984-85/t_England_Batting.html | url-status = live }}</ref> Agnew played just one first-class match on the tour,<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.cricketarchive.co.uk/Archive/Events/IND/England_in_India_1984-85/f_England_Batting.html |publisher = CricketArchive |access-date = 10 August 2011 |title = First-class batting and fielding for England – England in India 1984/85 |archive-date = 22 October 2012 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20121022090809/http://www.cricketarchive.co.uk/Archive/Events/IND/England_in_India_1984-85/f_England_Batting.html |url-status = live }}</ref> versus South Zone in Secunderabad, achieving match figures of seven wickets at an average of 29,<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.cricketarchive.co.uk/Archive/Events/IND/England_in_India_1984-85/f_England_Bowling.html | publisher = CricketArchive | access-date = 4 August 2011 | title = First-class bowling for England – England in India 1984/85 | archive-date = 22 October 2012 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20121022090822/http://www.cricketarchive.co.uk/Archive/Events/IND/England_in_India_1984-85/f_England_Bowling.html | url-status = live }}</ref> but he did play in three [[One Day International]]s (ODIs), two in India and one in Australia.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/player/8501.html?class=2;template=results;type=allround;view=match |title=Statistics / Statsguru / JP Agnew / One-Day Internationals |access-date=4 November 2011 |publisher=[[ESPNcricinfo]] |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161119210444/http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/player/8501.html?class=2%3Btemplate%3Dresults%3Btype%3Dallround%3Bview%3Dmatch |archive-date=19 November 2016 }}</ref> His debut ODI was promising, as he took 3–38 in a losing cause.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/45/45564.html | title = India v England – Charminar Challenge Cup 1984/85 (4th ODI) | publisher = CricketArchive | access-date = 4 November 2011 | archive-date = 15 September 2015 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150915185539/http://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/45/45564.html | url-status = live }}</ref> However, in his remaining two ODIs, he proved very expensive, taking no further wickets and conceding more than seven runs an over in each.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/45/45585.html | title = India v England – Charminar Challenge Cup 1984/85 (5th ODI) | publisher = CricketArchive | access-date = 4 November 2011 | archive-date = 30 September 2015 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150930145738/http://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/45/45585.html | url-status = live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web| url = https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/45/45647.html| publisher = CricketArchive| access-date = 4 November 2011| title = Australia v England – Benson and Hedges World Championship of Cricket 1984/85 (Group A)| archive-date = 4 November 2013| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20131104070541/http://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/45/45647.html| url-status = live}}</ref>

Agnew began the [[1985 English cricket season|1985 season]] vying with the established England fast bowlers to get back into the Test side. Over the winter, the side had been settled, with [[Norman Cowans]] and [[Chris Cowdrey]] playing all five Tests.  [[Neil Foster]] and Richard Ellison shared the third spot alongside the spinners, playing two and three Tests respectively.<ref name="IndT"/> Cowdrey and Ellison had struggled with the ball, both averaging more than 70.<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.cricketarchive.co.uk/Archive/Events/IND/England_in_India,_Sri_Lanka_and_Australia_1984-85/t_England_Bowling.html| publisher = CricketArchive| access-date = 11 August 2011| title = Test bowling for England – England in India, Sri Lanka and Australia 1984/85| archive-date = 22 October 2012| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20121022090835/http://www.cricketarchive.co.uk/Archive/Events/IND/England_in_India,_Sri_Lanka_and_Australia_1984-85/t_England_Bowling.html| url-status = live}}</ref> However, the side was extensively remodelled for the first Test of that summer's [[Australian cricket team in England in 1985|Ashes series]].<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.espncricinfo.com/wisdenalmanack/content/story/151938.html | title = England v Australia, 1985 | date = 6 July 2008 | publisher = [[ESPNcricinfo]] | access-date = 11 August 2011 | archive-date = 31 December 2010 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20101231025151/http://www.espncricinfo.com/wisdenalmanack/content/story/151938.html | url-status = live }}</ref> Of the bowlers who had played the last Test in India, only Cowans had survived the cull and it set the tone for the series. England won the first Test, yet dropped Cowans and [[Peter Willey]], replacing them with Phil Edmonds and Foster. After losing the second Test, and struggling with the ball in the third Test, when Australia made 539 [[Out (cricket)|all out]] in their only [[innings]],<ref>{{cite web| url = https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/46/46197.html| publisher = CricketArchive| access-date = 14 September 2011| title = England v Australia in 1985 – Australia in British Isles 1985 (3rd Test)| archive-date = 28 August 2011| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110828140325/http://www.cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/46/46197.html| url-status = live}}</ref> England decided to make further changes.

Agnew had performed consistently in county cricket through June and July,<ref>{{cite web|url = https://cricketarchive.com/cgi-bin/player_oracle_reveals_results2.cgi?playernumber=1759&testing=0&opponentmatch=exact&playername=agnew&resulttype=All&matchtype=All&teammatch=exact&startwicket=&homeawaytype=All&opponent=&endwicket=&wicketkeeper=&searchtype=MatchList&howout=All&endscore=&playermatch=contains&branding=cricketarchive&captain=&endseason=1985&startscore=&team=&startseason=1985|title = Jonathan Agnew from 1985 to 1985|publisher = CricketArchive|access-date = 14 September 2011|archive-date = 9 November 2012|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20121109100222/http://www.cricketarchive.com/cgi-bin/player_oracle_reveals_results2.cgi?playernumber=1759&testing=0&opponentmatch=exact&playername=agnew&resulttype=All&matchtype=All&teammatch=exact&startwicket=&homeawaytype=All&opponent=&endwicket=&wicketkeeper=&searchtype=MatchList&howout=All&endscore=&playermatch=contains&branding=cricketarchive&captain=&endseason=1985&startscore=&team=&startseason=1985|url-status = live}}</ref> culminating in what was to be, statistically, his finest moment as a bowler. Playing against [[Kent County Cricket Club|Kent]], he took 9–70 in the first innings.<ref>{{cite web| title = Leicestershire v Kent| publisher = CricketArchive| access-date = 4 August 2011| url = https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/46/46266.html| archive-date = 4 June 2011| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110604121556/http://www.cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/46/46266.html| url-status = live}}</ref> His timing was perfect and he was called up for the Fourth Test at Old Trafford to partner Ian Botham and Paul Allott in an all-Cheshire born seam attack.  The match finished as a draw, and Agnew failed to take a wicket.  He was relegated from an [[Bowling (cricket)|opening bowler]] in the first innings, to fifth bowler in the second, in which he only bowled nine overs.<ref>{{cite web|url = https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/46/46295.html|publisher = CricketArchive|access-date = 14 September 2011|title = England v Australia in 1985 – Australia in British Isles 1985 (4th Test)|archive-date = 28 August 2011|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110828090405/http://www.cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/46/46295.html|url-status = live}}</ref> He was subsequently dropped again from the side, only for Richard Ellison to cement his place with match-winning performances that helped claim the Ashes for England.<ref>{{Cite news | url = https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2005/sep/06/ashes2005.ashes1 | date = 6 September 2005 | work = [[The Guardian]] | location = London | access-date = 4 November 2011 | title = A swinging success that provides the perfect precedent | first = David | last = Hopps | archive-date = 19 September 2014 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140919225752/http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2005/sep/06/ashes2005.ashes1 | url-status = live }}</ref>

===Later playing career and retirement===
In the [[1987 English cricket season|1987 season]], Agnew achieved the feat of [[100 wickets in a season|100 first-class wickets in an English cricket season]] when he took 101 wickets for his county.<ref name=page55/> He was the first Leicestershire player to achieve this milestone since [[Jack Birkenshaw]] in 1968,<ref name="COY"/> which was the season before the county programme was greatly reduced, making the feat much less common.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://static.ecb.co.uk/files/hitting-the-seam-issue-3-page-3-269.pdf |title=Hitting the Seam – issue 3  |access-date=3 November 2011 |publisher=[[England and Wales Cricket Board]] |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091211114407/http://static.ecb.co.uk/files/hitting-the-seam-issue-3-page-3-269.pdf |archive-date=11 December 2009 }}</ref>{{refn|Between 1969 and 2011, the feat was achieved 50 times.<ref>{{Cite book | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=KDIxbom3Wb4C&q=agnew+100+wickets&pg=PT137 | title = Bats, Balls: The Essential Cricket Book | first = Les | last = Scott | isbn = 978-0-593-06146-6 | publisher = Bantam Press | date = 31 August 2011 | access-date = 26 October 2020 | archive-date = 20 October 2021 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20211020235602/https://books.google.com/books?id=KDIxbom3Wb4C&q=agnew+100+wickets&pg=PT137 | url-status = live }}</ref>|group=note}} By this stage, he was working on local radio during the winters and he found the reassurance of the additional income and career path a major factor in his improved form.<ref name=page55>Agnew. ''Thanks, Johnners''. p. 55</ref> ''Wisden'' preferred to attribute his success to "bowling off a shorter run and ... a wicked slower ball added to his armoury".<ref name="COY"/> The achievement led to him being selected as one of the five [[Wisden Cricketer of the Year|''Wisden'' Cricketers of the Year]].<ref name="COY"/>

Agnew's form remained good: he followed his 1987 feat of taking the second-most wickets in the County Championship<ref>{{cite web| url = https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Events/ENG/Britannic_Assurance_County_Championship_1987/Bowling_by_Wickets.html| publisher = CricketArchive| access-date = 10 November 2011| title = Bowling in the Brtiannic Assurance County Championship 1987 (ordered by wickets)| archive-date = 1 May 2012| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120501232251/http://www.cricketarchive.com/Archive/Events/ENG/Britannic_Assurance_County_Championship_1987/Bowling_by_Wickets.html| url-status = live}}</ref> by taking the third-most in 1988.<ref>{{cite web |url = https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Events/ENG/Britannic_Assurance_County_Championship_1988/Bowling_by_Wickets.html |publisher = CricketArchive |access-date = 10 November 2011 |title = Bowling in Britannic Assurance County Championship 1988 (ordered by wickets) |archive-date = 5 March 2016 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160305025957/http://www.cricketarchive.com/Archive/Events/ENG/Britannic_Assurance_County_Championship_1988/Bowling_by_Wickets.html |url-status = live }}</ref> In 1989, with two years of good form behind him and England losing 4–0 in the [[1989 Ashes series]],{{refn|In ''Thanks, Johnners'', Agnew erroneously calls this "the following year" to 1987.<ref name=page55/>|group=note}} Agnew "came frustratingly close to the recall to the England team that I had set my heart on."<ref name=page55/>

County captain and friend of Agnew, [[David Gower]] was England captain, and a number of fast bowlers from around the country called the telephone in the Leicestershire dressing room, to tell Gower that they were injured and unavailable for the [[1989 Ashes series#Sixth Test|Sixth Test]].<ref name=page55/> According to Agnew's account, Gower was at a loss as to whom to call into the squad.<ref name=page55/>

Agnew recalls that county colleague [[Peter Willey]] made a suggestion:

<blockquote>"'What about Agnew?' suggested Peter Willey&nbsp;... 'He's bowling pretty well at the moment.' David's face lit up. 'Of course!' he said. 'Jonathan, you're in. Go home, get your England stuff ready, and I'll call first thing tomorrow&nbsp;...' Even though I was approximately the seventeenth choice, this was still fantastic news&nbsp;... After three disappointing Test appearances, this was my second chance, and the opportunity to set the record straight&nbsp;... [The following day] the telephone finally rang. 'Got some bad news, I'm afraid,' David began. 'I couldn't persuade [[Ted Dexter]] or [[Mickey Stewart]], so you're not in any more. They've gone for [[Alan Igglesden]]. Know anything about him?' With that, David must have known his influence as England captain was over – and indeed Graham Gooch succeeded him after that Test. I felt utterly devastated, and knew I would never play for England again, which had been my main motivating force. So when the ''Today'' newspaper offered me the post of cricket correspondent the following summer, it was an easy decision to make. I might have been only thirty, which was no age to retire from professional cricket, and I could easily have played for another five years. But it was definitely time to move on."<ref>Agnew. ''Thanks, Johnners''. pp. 55–56</ref></blockquote>

Agnew formally retired from playing professional cricket at the end of the following season: Leicestershire's last match of the [[1990 English cricket season|1990 Championship season]] was his last first-class game.<ref name="last score">{{cite web | url = https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Seasons/ENG/1990_ENG_Britannic_Assurance_County_Championship_1990.html | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120117070306/http://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Seasons/ENG/1990_ENG_Britannic_Assurance_County_Championship_1990.html | archive-date = 17 January 2012| title = Britannic Assurance County Championship 1990| publisher = CricketArchive| access-date =2 December 2011}}</ref> Aged 30,<ref name=autogenerated1>{{cite web|url=http://www.cricinfo.com/england/content/player/8501.html|first=Martin|last=Williamson|title=Jonathan Agnew|publisher=[[ESPNcricinfo]]|access-date=3 August 2011|archive-date=25 September 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090925062736/http://www.cricinfo.com/england/content/player/8501.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Agnew took 1–42 in [[Derbyshire County Cricket Club|Derbyshire]]'s only innings and scored 6 in his only turn to bat.<ref name="list"/><ref name="last score"/> In 1992, two years after retirement, Leicestershire experienced an injury crisis before their [[NatWest Trophy]] semi-final against [[Essex County Cricket Club|Essex]]. Agnew answered a request to assist and played, finishing the match with [[Bowling analysis|figures]] of 12–2–31–1 (bowling twelve overs, including two maiden overs, and taking one wicket for 31 runs). Leicestershire won the match and progressed to the final, but Agnew chose not to play.<ref name="lessons in life">{{cite web |url=http://content-uk.cricinfo.com/england/content/story/244713.html |first=Steve |last=Pittard |title=The XI last-minute call-ups |publisher=[[ESPNcricinfo]] |date=May 2006 |access-date=3 November 2011 |archive-date=10 October 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081010202926/http://content-uk.cricinfo.com/england/content/story/244713.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Playing style and career summary===
Agnew's best first-class bowling figures were 9 for 70 and he took six [[ten-wicket haul]]s in 218 matches. In the 1988 Cricketer of the Year editorial on Agnew,{{refn|Written in 1989, while he was still playing|group=note}} ''Wisden'' noted that "his pace comes from a whippy wrist action and co-ordination&nbsp;... In the field, Agnew has at times appeared to be moving with his bootlaces tied together, but his long run-up was one of the more graceful in the game. However, it was the shortening of that run-up, and a cutting-down of pace, which led to&nbsp;... achievements [late in his career]"<ref name="COY"/>

As a batsman, Agnew had some highs, but it was his weaker suit. His highest first-class batting score was 90, starting initially as [[Nightwatchman (cricket)|nightwatchman]] in 1987 against [[Yorkshire County Cricket Club|Yorkshire]], at [[North Marine Road Ground, Scarborough]]. ''Wisden'' commented, "Agnew hit a spectacular, career-best 90 from 68 balls, including six sixes and eight fours, and then took the first five Yorkshire wickets to fall".<ref>{{cite book |title=Ask Bearders |last=Frindall  |first=Bill |year=2009 |publisher=BBC Books|isbn=978-1-84607-880-4 |page=20}}</ref> ''Wisden'' commented that Agnew was no [[all-rounder]], but he could "certainly bat&nbsp;... on his day he can destroy anything pitched up around off stump."<ref name="COY"/> The same piece noted his usual playing style, "playing hard but always with a sense of fun".<ref name="COY"/>

Agnew reflects on his playing career as having had two periods:
<blockquote>"My career could be divided up into two sections: the first being when I was an out-and-out fast bowler and played for England when I probably should not have done; and the second being when I slowed down a bit, learned how to swing the ball and did not play for England when I probably should have done.<ref>Agnew. ''Thanks, Johnners''. p. 39</ref></blockquote> His final Test was only twelve months after his England debut, and his first and last ODIs were played less than a month apart. Cricket commentator Colin Bateman opined, "his fleeting taste of Test cricket should have been added to in 1987 and 1988 when he was the most consistent fast bowler in the country, taking 194 wickets, but in 1989, when England were desperate for pace bowlers, his omission amounted to wanton neglect by a regime which questioned his desire".<ref name="Cap">{{cite book |title=If The Cap Fits |last=Bateman |first=Colin |year=1993 |publisher=Tony Williams Publications |isbn=1-869833-21-X |page=[https://archive.org/details/ifcapfits0000unse/page/9 9] |url=https://archive.org/details/ifcapfits0000unse/page/9 }}</ref> In 1988, when Agnew was selected as a ''Cricketer of the Year'', ''Wisden'' recorded this verdict on the contrariness of Agnew's Test career: "Asked about Agnew's omission, the chairman of selectors, [[Peter May (cricketer)|P. B. H. May]], expressed concern about his fitness – rather a baffling statement to make about someone who bowled more overs than any other fast bowler in the Championship."<ref name="COY"/>