Australia spin all-rounder Ashton Agar has returned back home in midst of the ongoing India tour which is currently in the middle of the four-match Test series of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2023. Agar was not picked for the first two Tests in Nagpur and Delhi, both of which the visitors lost.
Australia lost the Nagpur Test by innings and 132 runs and the second Test in Delhi by 6 wickets. India has retained the Border-Gavaskar Trophy and now will be aiming to cement their spot in the ICC World Test Champions 2023 final by winning the third Test which will be played in Indore from March 1.
Despite being named in the original touring party, Agar was overlooked for the first two Tests against India as he fell behind off-spinner Todd Murphy and fellow left-arm spinner Matt Kuhnemann in the pecking order.
Talking about the same Agar was quoted by Channel 10 Perth after landing in Australia: “There was really clear messaging, they communicated with me and it’s a clear path forward with that message – it’s chin up, walk tall and try to improve. There’s no bitterness around this sort of stuff anymore; that’s an old school mentality. I just try and give as much as I can and help where I can.
It’s not an ideal situation, but you just try and make the best of it. I’m 29 now and have been through plenty of ups and downs in the game. I’m in a fortunate position so it’s nothing that stresses me out too much.”
Agar will take part in Western Australia’s Sheffield Shield match on March 2 and the 50-over Marsh Cup final on March 8.
It’s Been Pretty Hard For Me: Ashton Agar Confident Of Being Part Of Test Team In Future
Ashton Agar will return to India for the three-match ODI series after being named in the Australian squad. However, he said that the lack of Test cricket and red-ball cricket, in general, has resulted in his confidence being low.
“It’s been pretty hard for me recently to be fair, I’ve played like three red-ball games in three years. It’s hard to expect that part of my game to be in tip-top, perfect shape. But I’ll always compete as hard as I can and give as much as I can to a team,” he told Channel 10 in Perth.
#Exclusive: @agar_ashton is back in Australia, the @CricketAus' spinner departing India after being overlooked for the first two tests | @ashnelson08 pic.twitter.com/UavIwW9r07
— 10 News First Perth (@10NewsFirstPER) February 22, 2023
“It’s just whether I get that chance, I’ll play as well as I can and see what happens. I do feel like I am pretty resilient and try and front up every day with a smile on my face and be part of a team. Going go India is really hard, individually it‘s hard and it’s bloody hard as a team especially against that team at the moment, they are unbelievable.
I think controlling my attitude had been a strength of mine over the last few years and I am certainly enjoying my cricket a lot more because of that. You definitely bounce back a little quickly from setbacks,” said Agar.
The ODI series will get underway on March 17 in Mumbai.