Editing Jonathan Agnew (section)

===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>