Warriors coach Justin Langer has declared Ashton Agar’s life “will never be the same again” after his incredible Ashes debut. Australia were teetering at 117-9 when Agar, eventually last man out for 98, joined Phil Hughes to add a 163-run last wicket partnership that gave Australia a 65-run first innings lead.
Agar’s heroics were ultimately not enough to prevent England taking the 1st Test by a 14-run margin, but Langer said the loose nature of the 19-year-old made him think back to the dominant and flamboyant West Indies cricketers of the past.
“He’s like one of the old West Indian batsmen in his batting and his fielding,” Langer said. “That’s one of the most attractive things about him as a player; he’s so loose, he’s so relaxed. It’s very rare to see players now that are like that, they tend to be so coached and so mechanical. I remember Sir Donald Bradman said in a letter to me, ‘Never become a slave to coaching’, and he certainly has n0t done that.”
“He’s so loose and that’s the same as the Calypso Cricketers that we used to love in the past, because that’s what they used to do; they could hit the ball both sides of the wicket, they could go aerial, or ground and that’s exciting.”
Langer said Agar would be far from disappointed at falling short of the century.
“I mean, in front of square leg, that’s the greatest shot of all time and, then to be caught at deep mid-wicket, that was stiff,” Langer said. “Maybe great captaincy, you could say, but when he hit it, I thought, mate that’s the greatest way to bring up a hundred of all time.
“But there was a real spring in the steps of the Warriors cricketers this morning, with some saying, ‘He didn’t even look disappointed’. He just made 98 in a Test match, batting for Australia at No. 11, broke every record, his life will never be the same again.”
And as for Agar’s future Langer says Western Australia’s new star will take huge confidence forward into the 2nd Ashes Test.
“Yes, there’ll be some expectations, but there’s expectations when you’re playing cricket for Australia.
“He now knows that he can do it at that level and, at the end of the day, that’s probably the hardest thing for a young guy coming in to international cricket - wondering whether they’re good enough.”
James Buttler
As the editor of World Cricket Badger he is intent on building the website to give quality coverage of the domestic game around the world.
He is also the presenter of the Cricket Badger Radio Show on Radio Yorkshire every Tuesday evening between 7-9pm UK time.
James was the full-time Media Manager at Yorkshire County Cricket Club between 2007 and 2010.
James is a published author, a writer/video contributor to many cricket publications and a complete cricket badger!
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