Agarkar hopes to cash in on third Cup chance

TRELAWNY, Jamaica, Mar 7 (Reuters) Indian paceman Ajit Agarkar is looking forward to playing an important role in his third World Cup after the first two ended in disappointment.

Agarkar, 29, India's most experienced new ball bowler with 272 wickets from 180 one-day games, played a minor part in 1999 when India failed to reach the semis and did not get a game four years later in South Africa where they reached the final.

However, a good rhythm over the past season coming to the Caribbean has raised hopes for Agarkar after a career blighted by injuries and inconsistency.

''Try to play at least one game, that is the first goal,'' Agarkar told Reuters in an interview yesterday. ''It is nice to get another opportunity.

''When you play a World Cup as a 21-year-old you don't know whether you will get another opportunity,'' said the Mumbai player who had not quite lived up to his early promise as a durable bowling all-rounder.

In the 1999 World Cup, Agarkar picked up one wicket in each of his three games, scoring one run in his only innings.

He could not break into the playing 11 in 2003 with the pace trio of Javagal Srinath and left-armers Zaheer Khan and Ashish Nehra helping India reach the final.

IMPROVED FITNESS Agarkar, expected to play a prominent role with Zaheer in the Caribbean, attributed his improved fitness to the recent good run.

''I've obviously gained a little more experience in the last three to four years,'' he said. ''The mindset towards the approach to bowling has also changed.

''When you are young you want to bowl a wicket-taking ball every time,'' he said. ''The rhythm comes down to experience and how well you know your body, getting stronger as you go on.

''When I started there was not a lot of fitness awareness then,'' the slim bowler said. ''I've had a few injuries and you sort of learn what your body's requirements are.'' Agarkar admitted he had not capitalised on his batting talents, after scoring a test hundred at Lord's and hit a 21-ball one-day fifty against Zimbabwe.

''I don't think at any point I was viewed as an all rounder,'' he said. ''Maybe a few reckless shots I played initially in my career, I might have done a bit differently now.'' Agarkar has not played a test since the Pakistan tour in January last year.

''I want to play both forms for the game for sure,'' he said.

''I'll keep giving good performances in one-day cricket to maybe get an opportunity in tests again.'' Reuters SRS VP0454