Border-Gavaskar Trophy: Australian spinner Ashton Agar to return home to play Sheffield Shield
Australian selector Tony Dodemaide said that Agar has 'worked his backside off' and has worked hard to be an option.
New Delhi: After captain Pat Cummins, bowler Ashton Agar will also leave for home and miss the rest of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. He will, reportedly, play for Western Australia in the ongoing Sheffield Shield. No additions have been made yet to replace him in the Test match squad. Australian selector Tony Dodemaide said that Agar has ‘worked his backside off’ and has worked hard to be an option.
Ashton Agar was touring along with Australia and was considered the second spinner before the tour. However, he did not get to play a game as the team went with experienced Nathan Lyon and youngsters Todd Murphy and Matthew Kuhnemann.
In the Nagpur Test, Murphy was given a chance ahead of Agar and he proved himself. In the Delhi Test, when Australia decided to play three spinners, the team management handed a debut to left-arm spinner Kuhnemann.
Dodemaide explained that Agar is not suited for the red ball currently according to them. He said that Murphy has been the find for them and Kuhnemann delivered in the second match by picking up Virat Kohli’s wicket.
Ashton Agar is likely to return to India for the ODI series as he is in the plan for the Australian management, looking at the upcoming ICC World Cup in India. Australia is yet to announce the squad for the three-match ODI series.
Pat Cummins has flown home after the second match due to family reasons, and it is not known if he will return for the Indore Test or not, while Mitchell Swepson will land in India after missing the first two games as he was at home for his first childbirth.
Josh Hazlewood and David Warner have been ruled out of the series due to injuries but Mitchell Starc and Cameroon Green might be fit to play the third Test.