in-form Agar a boost for WA
For someone who made batting in his Test debut appear so effortless and unaffected by the circumstances, Ashton Agar has done it tough over the past 18 months or so.
He lost his Test place, has been in and out of the West Australian and Perth Scorchers teams and has been battling to find the formula that marked his early success.
One 10-wicket haul may not make a career but the signs Agar showed in nearly bowling the Warriors to victory over South Australia this week augur well for his long-term prospects.
Flighting the ball effectively and gaining significant drop with the ease of a spin bowler at last comfortable with his game, Agar forced enough false shots from the Redbacks batsmen to signal that he is ready to take another step in his career.
"Bowling felt easy again. It felt effortless when I bowled the ball," he said.
"That's when I know I'm going well, so I've got to harness that feeling and keep it going.
"It's definitely the most consistent I've bowled and the best I've felt bowling for quite a while now."
Agar's double of 5-133 and 5-81 at Glenelg was just the sixth time that a WA spinner claimed 10 wickets in a Sheffield Shield match and the best return since Aaron Heal took 10-160 against Tasmania at the WACA Ground eight years ago.
The game ended in a draw with Shaun Marsh 44 not out as WA got to 4-72, just three runs short of the target.
"It was horrible," Agar said. "It was so tense the last over. It sort of felt like the Big Bash final again for the Scorchers."
Agar now has 57 career wickets - equal with his WA teammate Michael Beer - and is answering a query that coach Justin Langer posed when he first came across the teenager three years ago.
"I don't know if he can bowl but he can bat like Brian Lara," Langer told then Australian selector John Inverarity.
Agar batted like Lara to blaze a rapid 64 and give WA the impetus to push for victory, while any doubts over his bowling were blown away with the dust from the Glenelg pitch.
Former chairman of selectors Inverarity has been a great mentor for Agar and the pair will no doubt discuss the intricacies of left-arm finger spin when they catch up today at University's past player day and reunion of the 1974-75 premiership team that Inverarity captained.
Agar is adamant that returning to Test cricket is his primary goal and that performing well for WA provides the best vehicle for a comeback.
He is also aware that a distant goal is valuable but he can't afford to take his eyes off what lies immediately before him.
"The better I can do for WA, then the better my chances are to play at the top again," he said.
"I've learnt that so much can happen in a short period of time, it's best not to think too far ahead."
It felt effortless when I bowled the ball." *Ashton Agar *
