JOIN USNever in the history of Test cricket had a No 11 batsman made a hundred. Ashton Agar, a 19-year-old from Melbourne, had a chance to script that remarkable piece of history on Thursday against England in the first Ashes Test here. But he fell just two runs short.
A miscued pull off Stuart Broad was grabbed by Graeme Swann in the deep to snap his innings at 98, an innings that changed the complexion of the game. His knock was the highest by a No 11 batsman, going past the 95 made by Tino Best against England at Edgbaston last year.
Agar, perhaps, wouldn’t have minded one bit missing the chance to create history because he was not even included in the initial Ashes squad of Australia.
But his fortunes changed dramatically along with the appointment of Darren Lehmann as the Australian coach in place of Mickey Arthur. The former Australian batsman was impressed by the natural talent of Agar, and recommended an upgrade for him to the Ashes squad despite the left-hander playing just 10 first-class matches for Western Australia.
Agar vindicated the faith shown in him by Lehmann in stunning fashion. Before Agar’s arrival at the crease on the day, England were going swimmingly — reducing Australia to 117 for nine after notching up 215 in their first innings. With James Anderson and Swann bowling well, it seemed just a matter of few balls before Australia folded up.
But Agar in the company of Phil Hughes added 163 runs for the 10th wicket to lift Australia. It was also the highest partnership for the last wicket surpassing the 151 held jointly by Brian Hastings/Richard Collinge of New Zealand and Azhar Mahmood and Mushtaq Ahmed of Pakistan.
The most striking feature of Agar’s innings was the way he handled the off-spin of Swann. Here, perhaps, his Sri Lankan lineage might have come into play. Agar is the grandson of Nala Hewawissa, who played cricket for Dharmarajah College, Kandy, and Sheilagh Hewawissa.
When he was handed the Baggy Green by Glenn McGrath on Wednesday, many might have asked ‘Ashton Who’? But on this day he ensured that his name would be on everybody’s lips.