The Ashes 2017/18: Australia Recall Ashton Agar For Sydney Test

Australia have recalled left-arm spinner Ashton Agar for the fifth and final Ashes Test, scheduled to be played at the Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney from January 4.

The Australian management is expecting the Sydney track to be spin-friendly which can see Agar partner the incumbent Nathan Lyon in the starting XI and play his first Test at home. The 24-year old was picked in the team ahead of left-arm spinners Steve O’Keefe and Jon Holland.

Since making a memorable debut in the 2013 Ashes Test in Trent Bridge when he scored a heroic 98 while batting at number 11, Agar has managed to don the baggy green on only four occasions, the latest of which came in Bangladesh in September.

Agar was dropped from the team after his wicketless performance in the Lord’s Test after his Trent Bridge heroics and had to wait for four years to get another call. He played in both the Tests in Bangladesh and ended with seven wickets.

Agar also said that he was bowling better than ever in the longest format of the game.

“I think so,” he told cricket.com.au. “It comes down to understanding your action, what your best ball is, what you can fall back to and just thinking of getting the batter out.

“I’m not thinking about my action anymore or how the ball is coming out. All I’m thinking about is how to get the batter out at any point in time or the game situation. That’s a really good headspace to be in as a spin bowler,” he added.

Meanwhile, Australia have already sealed the series, having won the first three Tests.

Australia Test squad for Sydney Test:

Steve Smith (C), David Warner (VC), Cameron Bancroft, Usman Khawaja, Peter Handscomb, Shaun Marsh, Mitchell Marsh, Tim Paine (wk), Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood, Jackson Bird

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