Ian Botham wanted Agar to complete his ton – Cricket news
England’s former captain, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Ian-Terence-Botham-c63998, is all praise for Ashton Agar after the youngster’s blistering knock in Australia’s first innings of the first of the five-match Ashes series at Trent Bridge and revealed that he wanted the left-hander to complete
his century.
The left-arm spinner, who made a surprising debut at Trent Bridge, came in to bat at number 11 in the first innings with his team in deep trouble at 117 runs for the loss of nine wickets. Agar, however, surprised the sporting fans with his ability to strike
the ball hard.
The cricketer from Victoria went on to score 98 runs off merely 101 balls with the help of 12 boundaries and a couple of massive hits out of the park. He accumulated 163 runs for the 10th-wicket partnership along with http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Phillip-Hughes-c2185, which happens to be
a world record.
The legendary all-rounder, in his article for Daily Mirror, expressed that he thoroughly enjoyed the youngster’s knock, who he believes played with a lot of freedom and self-belief.
Botham wrote, “Like everyone else in the ground, I tip my hat to Ashton Agar for playing the game with the freedom and skill that makes people want to watch. Once he was in, he grew in confidence and it was just wonderful to watch.”
Prior to the Trent Bridge Test, the left-arm spinner had just played 10 first-class matches, having picked up 31 wickets and scoring three half-centuries. Many sporting analysts criticized the selection of the inexperienced cricketer but Agar has made the
team management proud with his extra-ordinary innings.
Botham is delighted to see a 19-year-old cricketer do so well at the highest stage of the game and revealed that he wanted him to complete his century.
“He did so well for a young lad on debut and, whisper it quietly, I would have been perfectly happy to see him get those last two runs before getting out, but after missing his ton, he's got something to aim for,” he added.
Agar has so far picked up two wickets in England’s second innings; however, he would have to perform consistently well with the ball to retain his place in the Australian team.
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