February 22, 2024
Ashton Agar Australian spin bowling all-rounder is heading home to play domestic cricket for Western
Australia. He has been released from the squad. Australia haven’t named any replacement for the third Border-Gavaskar test in Indore, Starting March 1.
As confirmed by the Australian team management, he is not carrying any injury, He will be back for the ODI series starting towards the end of march.
“He’s been very open with us, and he’s absolutely worked his backside off to get it right, to put himself up and be an option,” Australia’s tour selector Tony Dodemaide said on Wednesday. “We have no doubt that Ashton has put in a lot of effort.”
Agar arrived in India with the expectation of playing as a second spinner along with Nathon Lyon as he played the last home test match against South Africa in Sydney. But he has been unable to find a place in the eleven in the first two tests matches of the Border-Gavaskar trophy.
Left-arm off-spinner was the favorite to play the first test in Nagpur, but team management choose to go with talented off-spinner Todd Murphy over Agar to partner Lyon along with two pacers, Pat Cummins and Scott Boland.
In the second test, Australia picked three spinners, but yet again, he was overlooked in the favour of fellow left-arm orthodox spinner Matthew Kuhnemann. Surprisingly Kuhnemann made his debut in Delhi test despite having not been part of the original squad. He was called as cover five days prior to the Second test.
Several media reports speculated about agar’s exclusion, saying Aussie team management is not happy with his red ball performance in the nets. Australian team selector Tony Dodemaide made a surprise statement justifying the team selection before the toss on the first morning of Delhi test, “his red-ball bowling is not quite where he wants it to be,” he said. Dodemaide and Agar met at the team hotel, and It was decided that he would fly back home to play domestic cricket.
Agar will now feature in the Sheffield Shield game for Western Australia on March 2. And their Marsh cup final on March 8, is expected to come back to India for the ODI series.
Australia have already 2-0 down in Border-Gavaskar trophy after losing the first two tests inside a total of 5 days. Also, Visitor camp have been plagued with injuries since the start of the tour. The likes of Mitch Stac, Josh Hazelwood & Cameron Green were unavailable for first two tests. They have already lost David Warner and Josh Hazelwood due to injuries.
Skipper Pat Cummins has flown home to attend to some serious family illness. He is expected to come back for the third test in Indore, the situation remains fluid. Steve Smith will lead the side if Cummins fails to come back in time for Indore test.
Cameron Green is likely to play Third Test
Cameron Green will be fit to play the Indore test after regaining full fitness. Green was very close to playing the second test, But the Australian team management chose not to rush his comeback. He will replace Matt Renshaw in playing eleven, who has failed to impress with the bat so far in the series. Green will bat at no.6, and his bowling will give them much needed 5th Bowling option.
Star left-arm pacer Mitchell Starc will also be available for selection. And Leg spinner Mitchell Swepson is also expected to rejoin the squad after traveling home for the birth of his child.
Border-Gavaskar trophy action will resume after a 10-day break at Indore’s Holkar Stadium on March 1.
