Agar's 'greatest moment in life'

On Thursday, Australia return to Trent Bridge where a 19-year-old Ashton Agar entered Ashes folklore with a stunning Test debut that ignited the series and an entire country.

After only a handful of Sheffield Shield games for Western Australia, Agar was plucked to be Nathan Lyon’s understudy on  Australia A’s tour of the British Isles, a five-week expedition that navigated England, Ireland and Scotland and helped half of the 16-man Ashes squad acclimatise prior to the main event.

Agar played in all three first-class matches, and after taking a few wickets and scoring a few more runs, the left-arm spinner impressed selector on duty Rod Marsh and soon-to-be head coach Darren Lehmann enough to warrant a call-up to the Ashes party.

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Agar's wild Ashes ride was about to begin // Getty Images

While the call from chairman of selectors John Inverarity on the final night of the ‘A’ campaign was surprising it was not unexpected, as Agar was told at the start of the tour if he performed well he was a chance to be promoted to the Ashes squad.

After the call ended and the nerves subsided, it dawned on Agar that he could potentially be playing a Test match within weeks, and the thought sat well with him.

“You get that gut feeling and that’s what I had,” he told cricket.com.au.

Australia had two tour games before the first Test in Nottingham on July 10. Agar didn’t play in the six-wicket victory in Taunton, but he got his chance in Worcester which is considered a dress rehearsal for the first Test of the series and a strong indicator who will be selected.

Without knowing it, Agar was locked in a two-way battle with Nathan Lyon for the sole spinners’ spot in the Test XI.

But Agar didn’t see an adversary in Lyon, instead he saw a teacher and a “seriously good spinner”, one he could bounce off while showing the upmost respect for the wily veteran.

“I owe a lot to Gaz.”

Modest returns in Worcester failed to dampen Agar’s belief he was a chance to debut at Trent Bridge, but that belief turned into disbelief when he saw Marsh and Lehmann change their trajectory to intercede him on his way back to the pavilion after a stint in the nets.

It was a Monday, two days out from the first Test and Agar was hit by a truckload of nerves as he saw the coach and selector approach.

“They’re saying something serious if they’re both coming over to say something,” he said.

Marsh, never one to overcomplicate a message, kept the life-changing message brief.

“'You’re in, mate. Go call your parents'.”

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The Agar family made the dash to Trent Bridge in time to see him // Getty Images

Within hours, Agar’s speechless parents were on a plane to the United Kingdom as he tried to keep the biggest news of his life a secret by sticking to routine and keeping his habits as normal as possible.

The night before his Test debut, a big chocolate thickshake calmed the nerves while every article of clothing was laid out in readiness and 10 alarms were set, just to be safe.

“It’s today. It’s happening now.”

At that point in his juvenile career, all Agar’s memories were positive. From playing with Western Australia to his games for Australia A, Agar had no reason not to expect success as he sat in the team bus to the ground, listening to music and trying to slow down his racing thoughts.

Agar had watched countless times on television Australian cricketers being presented their Baggy Green cap, and now it was his turn to live that moment and receive his from Glenn McGrath, the Test icon who Agar and his brother had taken a photo with after the Australians trained in Perth one summer.

Now it was McGrath who was asking for the picture.

“Pride. Honour. Respect.”

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Glenn McGrath presented Agar with his baggy green // Getty Images

The three words that have stayed with Agar from McGrath’s emotional Baggy Green presentation that rendered more than one member of the Australian touring party to tears.

It was a “huge moment” for the lithe left-hander, and after he warmed-up with his prized possession firmly on his head, Agar cradled his Baggy Green and thought “no one can take it off you”.

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Agar all smiles with his brand new Baggy Green // Getty Images

The heaving Trent Bridge crowd was in full voice as the national anthems of both countries were belted out by the public and the participating teams before Australia took to the field after losing the toss.

The nerves and adrenaline were at their peak when Agar took his fielding position at point, a “hot spot” where the fielder is in the game every ball as James Pattinson steamed in for the first delivery of the series.

“Each wicket felt huge.”

Pattinson claimed the first wicket of the series, dismissing England captain Alastair Cook with the last ball of the ninth over as Agar and his teammates swarmed the jubilant bowler.

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Pattinson pumped after dismissing Cook // Getty Images

Agar didn’t say anything in the team huddles each time a wicket fell or drinks were called. “Not a lot I could say.”

Michael Clarke didn’t wait long to give his new recruit a chance to do what he was picked for. At 1-50 after 15 overs, England were slowly recovering after the loss of Cook, so Clarke threw the ball to his left-arm spinner to make an impact halfway through the morning session.

“Nice to get one out of the way.”

Agar’s first ball was a juicy low full toss wrapped in nervous energy to Jonathan Trott and driven to the cover boundary. It didn’t matter. The nerves immediately dissipated and Agar finished with 0-24 from seven overs.

Peter Siddle’s five wickets helped bowl England out for a modest 215, but that score looked mountainous when Australia slumped to 9-117.

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Agar and Swann sign autogrpahs at Trent Bridge // Getty Images

Sitting in a silent dressing room as the wickets tumbled, Agar and good friend Ashton Turner, a fellow Western Warrior who was in the squad throughout the first Test, discussed how he was going to play their spin-bowling idol Graeme Swann when it was his turn to bat.

“I’m going to actually face him here.”

When the ninth wicket fell, Agar looked to Turner, said “gotta go” and walked out to a boisterous crowd that felt like it was on top of the adolescent No.11.

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Agar heads out to bat at Trent Bridge in 2013 // Getty Images

While he was soaking in the atmosphere like a human sponge, Agar’s first thought as he strode to the crease for his first Test innings was to not get out for a golden duck.

A forward defence off a “pretty good ball” from Swann was defended to achieve the first milestone. A ball later the next objective was complete – getting off the mark.

“Jeez this is close.”

On six, Agar got the benefit of the doubt when a possible stumping was sent upstairs to the third umpire. The longer the replays lasted the more confident Agar felt that he would survive, and when the big screen revealed ‘not out’ a thankful sigh of relief followed.

Lehmann’s instructions to Agar were as simple as the message Marsh delivered two days earlier: “Go and bat.”

Archive: Highlights of Agar's famous innings

Agar had hit three fours in first 20 balls to rattle along at just under a run a ball to silence the English in the field and slowly turn down the volume of the amplified attendance.

Kevin Pietersen was the only player that said anything to Agar, but his sledge fell on deaf ears as Agar and partner Phillip Hughes focused on the task at hand and not what the opposition’s mind games.

“High risk, high reward.”

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Agar smacks Swann for a boundary // Getty Images

Agar’s confidence skyrocketed when he wound up and launched his hero Swann into the stands at the Pavilion End. The risk was worth the pay-off, and it also completed another lifelong goal as if his first match for his country was a series of video game levels.

Three half-century milestones were reached in quick succession. First, the 50 partnership between Agar and Hughes, followed by Agar’s 50 in as many balls, and finally Hughes’s half-century as Australia entered the lunch break with the momentum, and more importantly, the lead.

Agar had been ruthless against Swann, bossing another six straight down the ground after he reached 50 before peeling off a brace of boundaries from Stuart Broad either side of the wicket to silence the extroverted offie.

Lunch was quiet. After a few pats on the back and a light meal, the not out pair sat in the change rooms and Agar knew by the determined look in his partner’s eye that the job was not done yet.

While Agar’s knock was flamboyant and full of gusto, Hughes was in complete control throughout his innings, never flustered amid the carnage at the other end.

“Think of Lang.”

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Hughes congratulates Agar in the middle of Trent Bridge // Getty Images

As the pair built the lead, Hughes kept urging his young batting partner stay focused and think of Agar’s state coach and former Australia opening batsman Justin Langer.

Langer’s mantra as a counter-punching batsman was to give absolutely nothing to the opposition, a stone pillar void of expression. Hughes had adopted that theory, never changing his facial expression no matter the circumstance as he continued to motivate Agar, who couldn’t keep the brimming smile off his dial.

Agar was on the attack in the afternoon session, taking on Broad and James Anderson head on, and as three-figures crept closer, Agar decided not to change the aggressive approach that had got him this far.

A thick outside edge on 93 brought three runs and gave Agar the highest score in Test history at No.11, overtaking Tino Best’s 95 from a year earlier. More importantly, the triple to third man placed Agar within one shot of an unforgettable century.

Two more to third man off Broad had the crowd buzzing, who was now barracking for the Australian southpaw and not the 11 men representing England attempting to thwart the record-breaking knock.

But just as the fairy tale was set to climax, it was Agar’s hero who became the villain as Swann snared a bludgeoned pull shot at cow corner to the simultaneous sighs and screams from the torn crowd.

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Broad celebrates as Agar falls just short of his ton // Getty Images

The cheeky smile never left Agar’s face as he shrugged his shoulders and acknowledged the standing ovation from everyone who witnessed the magical knock.

Archive: Agar reflects straight after his knock at Trent Bridge

“Felt like I made 100.”

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Agar salutes a very appreciative Nottingham crowd // Getty Images

Agar didn’t have long to dwell on what he’d just achieved. The 163-run stand with Hughes gifted Australia a 65-run lead, and now it was time for the left-armer to contribute with the ball.

Agar had another early opportunity in the 12th over, but England were on the defensive and played him cautiously as they whittled down the lead and began setting a target for the tourists to pursue.

Cook was playing at his patient best, reaching 50 off 164 balls before Agar got a ball to spit out of the rough, take a thick outside edge and offer a smart chance to Clarke at slip which he gladly accepted, lifting the confidence of the young spinner as if he’d just scored a century, which he almost did.

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Agar celebrates his first Test wicket // Getty Images

The monkey was off the back, and with the last delivery before the second new ball was available Agar bowled a peach to Jonny Bairstow which drifted in, spun away and kissed the outside edge of the bat through to wicketkeeper Brad Haddin.

“You have got to be kidding me?”

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Bairstow becomes Agar's second wicket // Getty Images

While Agar’s debut will undoubtedly be remembered for his extraordinary exploits with the bat, there was another moment which carried as much gravity.

When Stuart Broad was given not out after edging Agar to Clarke at first slip, Agar was in disbelief for the second time in five days.

So blatant was the deflection from blade to hand that Agar only realised something was awry when he saw his teammates pleading with umpire Aleem Dar.

Dar claimed he didn’t see it, Broad stood his ground and two years after the even Agar has moved on, though he would have liked the wicket.

“Never faced anything like it.”

Set 311 to win, Agar was elevated to No.8 in the second innings and entered at 6-164, crossing paths with Hughes on the way to the middle.

There was no extravagance this time around due to the situation in the match and the way Anderson surgically bowled to the left-hander.

Swinging the ball both ways and landing each delivery on a penny, Agar had not confronted this calibre of bowling in his short time at first-class level, and after a thorough investigation around his off-stump, Agar was squared up, nicked out and gone for 14.

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Agar didn't have the same impact with the bat in the second innings // Getty Images

Another last-wicket stand brought Australia to within 14 runs of victory, but Anderson’s removal of Haddin gave the fast bowler his 10th wicket for the Test and England the win in a thriller.

“Playing with heroes, against heroes.”

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Agar's teammates applaud him after THAT 98 // Getty Images

Looking back at the match two years later, Agar only has good memories of the experience playing alongside Clarke and Haddin, against Pietersen and Swann.

Now for Agar it’s about being up to that standard, to be as good as his peers, getting back into the Test team and staying there.

And the memory of the Trent Bridge Test, and his magical 98, will be forever linked with Phillip Hughes.

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Hughes and Agar: An Ashes partnership for the ages // Getty Images

Agar knew him as a friend, a teammate, a hero growing up and always as a good person.

The pair share the “single greatest moment” of Agar’s life, a moment he will treasure forever.

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The way the UK press covered Agar's performance // Getty Images

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