Test door may be ajar for Agar
ASHTON Agar’s Big Bash League batting heroics, and the fact he’s a left-arm spinner, have elevated him back into Test contention after he was added to the squad for the SCG Test which starts on Tuesday.
The West Australian and NSW left-arm tweaker Steven O’Keefe were added, while batsman Nic Maddinson and unused seamer Chadd Sayers were left out of the 13-man group.
Maddinson was dropped after three Tests that netted only 27 runs.
Victorian all-rounder Glenn Maxwell was over- looked, but Australian coach Darren Lehmann said the SCG selections would not necessarily have a bearing on who goes to India.
All-rounder Hilton Cartwright remains in the squad. Whether he replaces Maddinson in the XI and bowls some medium pace will hinge on the state of the SCG wicket.
Agar, who burst on to the Test scene with a 98 on debut, batting at No.11 in England in 2013, is also a No.6 option as Australia looks for a spinning all-rounder to take to India in February.
Lehmann suggested the home team would likely take two spinners into the final Test against Pakistan with the battle expected to be between Agar and O’Keefe after incumbent offie Nathan Lyon’s three-wicket haul yesterday ensured he’ll keep his place in the side.
“(Lyon) bowled beautifully today and there’s no reason why he wouldn’t (play in Sydney),” Lehmann said.
“We wanted a left-armer to go away from all of their righthanders. (Agar has) made Shield hundreds and obviously batted really well on his Test debut.
“He’s certainly got talent to be a batting rounder, or a spinning rounder.” the allall-