Refreshed Agar starts on the road back

Left-arm spinner Ashton Agar says he's moved on from the disappointment of losing his Cricket Australia contract as he begins his journey back to the national side.

Agar and Western Australia teammate Mitch Marsh were the notable omissions from last summer's CA contract list that left both players frustrated but realistic about what they must do to return to the international arena. 

For Agar, that starts with performing for Australia A just like he did on Thursday in Northampton where he captured 3-55 from 10 overs in the tourists' emphatic six-wicket win.

Image Id: 51DA5A3B749D4F028A3E7256D0DA2B6C Image Caption: Agar lost his CA contract this year // Getty

Marsh also played a starring role in the victory over Northamptonshire with 2-41 with the ball and an unbeaten 40 with the bat to cap off an all-round display.  

Agar says the pair have discussed losing their CA contracts over coffee in Cottesloe in south-west Perth and together have a new mindset as they push for a recall in the green and gold. 

"We were both frustrated with it but we both recognised there's no point living in the past," Agar told cricket.com.au in Derby on Friday. 

"We can only do what we can do to get better now and stay hungry and be courageous and give it a crack.  

"So that's what we're doing. 

"I'm sure (Marsh) losing his contract as well would've hit him pretty hard and I know that's only made him more determined to be a better player.  

"He started the tour really well – a couple of wickets, some runs as well and I think his innings progressed really nicely. 

"He seems to be in a wonderful headspace."

Image Id: 3F2FC53A7C3340238C97971885481AC8 Image Caption: Agar took three wickets in Northampton on Thursday // Kyle Andrews

Both Agar and Marsh have enjoyed time with the national side during the World Cup, with Marsh called in as cover for Marcus Stoinis and Agar drafted in to mimic the bowling style of Bangladesh's ace spin-bowling allrounder Shakib al-Hasan ahead of this week’s clash at Trent Bridge. 

With their services no longer required, the duo jumped in a car and drove down the M1 to Northampton to join the 'A' squad for their clash against Northants.

But it's Justin Langer's team that both players want to permanently call home, and Agar believes the 50- and 20-over formats offer his best chance for re-entry.  

And the way to get there, according to Agar, is to not think about it.  

"I'm probably closer in white-ball cricket than I am in Test match cricket," he said.  

"It's a hard one. I recently lost my contract and place in the Australian one-day side so I'm pretty keen to get back in there at some stage.

"How close I am? Well, the best thing to do is not to worry about that.  

"Whenever I've done well it's when I've just concentrated on playing and doing the best job I can for the team I'm playing in and right now that's Australia A.  

"I've started strongly and I'm going to keep trying to do that." 

Alongside Agar as he climbs back to the top of Australian cricket is a newfound self-belief he has slowly built throughout his memorable career. 

Six years ago, a 19-year-old Agar was part of another Australia A tour, mainly as a development player as those in the Ashes squad prepared to face England.

Image Id: 93C4A2CB43294A9A9EA9FC39D707AC54 Image Caption: Ashton Agar on his Test debut // Getty

But under new coach Darren Lehmann, Agar was not only vaulted into the Ashes squad but into the first Test XI, where he made his debut at Trent Bridge and produced a magical 98 in his maiden Test innings.

Injury and a drop in form saw him miss the back end of the 2013 campaign and in the six years since has played just three more Tests, the last of which came in Bangladesh in October 2017, nine one-day internationals and 15 T20s for his country.

The yo-yoing in and out of the Australia setup has only steeled Agar, who now backs himself to perform each time he takes the field. 

"It's just something I've realised in myself through playing all formats for Australia at a pretty young age and having some success there now," Agar said. 

"I've learnt if you don't believe in yourself out there, you've got nothing.  

"That's the biggest key. You see every great athlete over time, I think what separates them is they have unwavering self-belief." 

There was no better illustration of Agar's confidence than in Thursday's match in Northampton, his first competitive hit-out since January.

Image Id: E9B0327E9CC04C1DB99E19E31026318F Image Caption: Agar fell two short of a century on debut // Getty

Brought on early by captain Travis Head, Agar's first three overs leaked 28 runs as he tried to implement the skills he'd been working on since breaking his right index finger while training with the Perth Scorchers in January. 

Agar has practiced getting more energy on the ball and more shape in the air to counter flat wickets, like the one at The County Ground three days ago. 

But when it went awry early on, Agar did not drop his head. Instead, the turnaround promptly came and his last seven overs yielded 3-27.

Agar is not a long-term goal-setter, but he has immediate targets he'd like to hit. 

"Performing well on the 'A' tour (is a goal) but it's also taking that stuff I've been working on and having the courage to apply that in a game," he said.  

"I found that a bit difficult in my first couple of overs (on Thursday).

"It's something about the environment when you're out in the middle and really trying to give the ball a big rip when it's potentially a bit outside your comfort zone, that can be pretty hard.  

"But I stayed persistent with that and gave it a good crack. 

"I just remained positive and came back really strong and finished with a few wickets and not too many runs. I was proud of that." 

Australia A tour of the UK

Get live scores and all the latest news from Australia A's tour of the UK on cricket.com.au and the CA Live app

Australia A one-day squad: Travis Head (c), Matthew Wade, Will Pucovski, Peter Handscomb, Mitch Marsh (vc), D'Arcy Short, Kurtis Patterson, Ashton Agar, Michael Neser, James Pattinson, Josh Hazlewood (vc), Sean Abbott, Andrew Tye

Australia A four-day squad: Tim Paine (c), Marcus Harris, Kurtis Patterson, Will Pucovski, Travis Head (vc), Peter Handscomb, Matthew Wade, Mitch Marsh, Michael Neser, Jon Holland, James Pattinson, Jackson Bird, Josh Hazlewood (vc), Chris Tremain

One-day fixtures:

June 20: Australia A beat Northamptonshire by six wickets

June 23: Australia A v Derbyshire, County Ground

June 25: Australia A v Worcestershire, Kidderminster CC

June 30: Australia A v Gloucestershire, Bristol

July 2: Australia A v Gloucestershire, Bristol

Four-day fixtures:

July 7-10: Australia A v Sussex, Arundel

July 13-16: Australia A v England Lions, Canterbury

July 23-26: Australia v Australia A, Hampshire