Debut performance proves Agar’s Test potential

Ashton Agar was the surprise selection on day one of the first Ashes Test at Trent Bridge and the tall left-arm spinner continued to make headlines throughout the enthralling contest. On day one, the 19-year-old, who was chosen instead of the more experienced Nathan Lyon, became the 2,000^th man to bowl in Test matches, bowling 7 overs 0-24 runs in England’s first innings.

On the second day of the Test, Agar made the headlines once again; this time on merit. His remarkable match-changing knock of 98 from number 11 was one of the most memorable innings of the series so far. Agar’s score was the highest score ever by a Test number 11 and his partnership of 151 with Phil Hughes the highest tenth wicket stand in Test cricket. Aside from his maturity at the crease and fearless approach, it was his wicked smile that instantly endeared the young Aussie to the English crowds. Agar continued to impress on day three, this time with the ball, as he took 2-82, as well as the wicket of Stuart Broad that never was. Unfortunately in the second innings he couldn’t quite repeat his first-innings feat, managing 14 from 71 balls as the Australians came up fourteen runs short of victory.

Back in May, Agar made three appearances for Henley CC in the Home Counties Premier League, taking a hat-trick of lbws during his time with the Oxfordshire club. Two months on, having originally been included in the Australian touring squad for ‘development’ purposes, Agar was chosen for the tourist’s warm-up fixture against Worcestershire. He picked up match figures of 3-165. England should have thus perhaps been expecting that the 19-year-old might be included in the Australia XI, but the omission of Lyon was certainly a shock to everyone, especially considering the off-spinner took 7-94 in his last Test match against India, dismissing Sachin Tendulkar and Virat Kohli in both innings.

Ultimately however, Agar’s transition into the side is just another step by the Australians in their attempts to find a new Shane Warne. Previous selections of relatively unknown and inexperienced spinners, such as Beau Casson, Jason Krejza, Bryce McGain, Xavier Doherty and Michael Beer, show how desperate Australia are to discover another ‘wonder-spinner’. The recent fast-tracking of Pakistan-born leggie Fawad Ahmed further exemplifies this point. Perhaps the Australian selectors should reflect on whether or not these off-hand selections devalue the gravitas of the historic Baggy Green cap?

Although many young spinners in the post-Warne era have fallen by the waste side, this record-breaking debut suggests there is hope that Agar won’t join this list. Agar – who nearly everyone agrees is left-arm-quick Mitchell Starc’s and Aussie golfer Adam Scott’s long-lost brother – batted with great maturity in the first innings and bowled with great control throughout. Regarding the remainder of this Ashes series, Agar’s nature as a left-armer, along with his unorthodox cross-seamed finger spin, certainly suggests that he could complement Nathan Lyon in a duel-pronged spin attack. Whether this comes to fruition we will have to wait and see, but beyond this year’s Ashes, the Australian population will be hopeful that this lad can go on to have a long and prosperous Test career.