Kerry O'Keeffe apologises for crass 'railway canteen' jibe at Mayank Agarwal

O'Keeffe was commentating for Fox Sports on the opening day of the match at the MCG when he mocked opener Agarwal's first-class triple century, made for Karnataka against Maharashtra in 2017

Kerry O'Keeffe has apologised for his comments about the Ranji Trophy during the ongoing Test between India and Australia in Melbourne.

O'Keefe was commentating for Fox Sports on the opening day of the match at the MCG when he mocked opener Mayank Agarwal's first-class triple century, made for Karnataka against Maharashtra in 2017.

The 69-year-old crassly joked that Agarwal "apparently he got his triple against... Railways canteen staff."

"Who opened the bowling for them that day? The chef. First change? The kitchen hand. And they've got the spinner as well... the casual uni student that cleans the bottles," he continued.

"Some of those first-class games in India don't stand up, do they. East Hyderabad delicatessen."

^{Mayank Agarwal made 76 in India's first innings at the MCG}

O'Keeffe's words sparked some anger on social media, with users quick to quote Agarwal's overall first-class record to the former Australia international.

Agarwal, making his debut for India in this Test, averaged 49.98 across his first-class career heading into the Boxing Day clash, with eight centuries and 20 fifties to his name in 78 innings.

O'Keeffe said sorry on Thursday following the online backlash.

"I was mentioning the runs Agarwal got in first-class cricket in India and there's been a reaction," he was quoted as saying by the Australian media.

"There was no way I was demeaning the standard, it was tongue-in-cheek. There are lots of runs scored so apologies if anyone out there took offence."

Agarwal made 76 in India's first innings at the MCG to become his country's highest-scoring debutant in Australia, surpassing a 71-year-old record.

Here's Kerry O'Keefe ridiculing standard of #RanjiTrophy for a cheap laugh. @cricketcomau @bhogleharsha #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/Kuzm63t3m8

— Hiren patel (@Hirensyd) December 26, 2018