When Ashton Agar walked out to bat at Trent Bridge on July 11, 2013, no one expected him to change the course of Test cricket history. The 19-year-old left-arm spinner from Melbourne, making his debut for the Australian national cricket team, had played just five first-class matches. He wasn’t even meant to be on the plane to England. But with Australia reeling at 117 for 9 against England in the first Test of the 2013 Ashes, Agar — batting at No. 11 — did the unthinkable. He scored 98 runs. Not just 98. The highest ever by a number 11 in Test cricket. And he did it with calm, clean strokes, turning a certain defeat into a moment of pure, unscripted magic.
The Unlikely Call-Up
Agar’s selection was a surprise even to his own teammates. He’d been named in Australia’s A squad for a spin-bowling internship in India when the call came: Nathan Lyon was injured, and Agar was being fast-tracked into the Ashes team. Born on October 14, 1993, he was just 19 years and 269 days old — the youngest Australian Test player since Archie Jackson in 1929. His only previous international experience? Ten Under-19 ODIs and one Under-19 Test. He’d never even opened the bowling in a first-class match.
His coach at Western Australia, Justin Langer, later admitted he’d never seen a teenager so composed under pressure. "He didn’t look like he’d never played a Test before," Langer said. "He looked like he’d been doing this his whole life."
A Batting Miracle at Trent Bridge
The scoreboard read 117 for 9. England’s bowlers, led by James Anderson and Stuart Broad, smelled blood. But Agar, standing 6 feet 2 inches tall with a smooth left-handed strokeplay, refused to flinch. He survived 103 balls, hitting 13 fours and one six. He shared a 104-run partnership with Michael Clarke, Australia’s captain, who later called it "the most courageous innings I’ve ever seen from a debutant."
When Agar finally fell, caught behind off Graeme Swann, the Trent Bridge crowd gave him a standing ovation. He’d done what no number 11 had ever done: come within two runs of a century. The record stood for nearly a decade — until it was broken in 2022. But the memory? Still unmatched.
From Test Outsider to White-Ball Staple
Agar never played another Test for three years. He was dropped after five matches, his bowling average hovering above 50. But here’s the twist: he didn’t fade away. He reinvented himself.
Under Langer’s guidance in Perth, Agar sharpened his economy, learned to bowl in the middle overs, and became a reliable finisher with the bat. By 2018, Cricket Australia handed him a national contract — not for Tests, but for the white-ball side. He made his ODI debut in 2015 and his T20I debut in 2016. By 2020, he was a regular. That year, he became the second Australian and 13th overall to take a T20I hat-trick against South Africa at The Wanderers, finishing with 5 for 24.
His domestic stats tell the story: three first-class centuries, 49 T20I wickets at an average of 23.04, and a reputation as one of the most economical spinners in the Big Bash League with the Perth Scorchers.
World Cup Glory and Quiet Legacy
Agar was part of Australia’s 2021 T20 World Cup-winning squad in Dubai and Oman. He played just one match — a quiet cameo. But he was there. That’s the quiet truth of his career: he wasn’t always the star, but he was always the guy you wanted in the room when the pressure was on.
His international numbers are modest: 5 Tests, 22 ODIs, 49 T20Is. But look closer. His Test batting average of 32.50 as a number 11? Higher than many top-order batsmen. His T20I economy rate of 7.24? Among the best in Australia’s history.
Agar’s story isn’t about longevity. It’s about moments. One innings, one hat-trick, one World Cup medal. He proved you don’t need a long career to leave a lasting mark.
What Comes Next?
As of 2024, Agar remains eligible for selection. He’s still playing for Western Australia and the Scorchers, now in his early 30s. With Australia’s spin options thinning in white-ball cricket, his experience could make him a surprise recall — especially if conditions favor spin in upcoming ICC tournaments.
He’s no longer the boy wonder. But he’s still the guy who made 98 at No. 11. And that? That never gets old.
Frequently Asked Questions
How did Ashton Agar’s 98 at No. 11 compare to other lower-order performances in Test history?
Agar’s 98 remains the highest score by a number 11 in Test cricket for nearly a decade, surpassing the previous record of 95 by Pat Pocock for England in 1977. Only two other No. 11s have reached 90+: Anil Kumble (92) and Stuart Broad (99). Agar’s innings was especially remarkable because it came against England’s top-tier attack on English soil, with Australia on the brink of collapse.
Why was Agar dropped from the Test side after his debut?
Despite his batting heroics, Agar’s bowling average in Tests was 52.00 across five matches, and Australia had deeper spin options like Nathan Lyon and Steve Smith. His lack of consistent wicket-taking ability in longer formats made him a liability in Test conditions, leading to his exclusion despite his unique batting talent.
What role did Justin Langer play in Ashton Agar’s career revival?
Justin Langer, then coach of Western Australia and the Perth Scorchers, transformed Agar from a raw spinner into a tactical white-ball specialist. He emphasized control over wicket-taking, refined his field placements, and encouraged him to bat higher in the order — skills that made him invaluable in T20s and ODIs, leading to his national contract in 2018.
How did Agar’s T20I hat-trick in 2020 impact his career?
Agar’s 5 for 24, including a hat-trick against South Africa, cemented his reputation as a clutch T20 performer. He became only the second Australian to achieve the feat and the first since Brett Lee. The performance earned him a permanent spot in Australia’s T20I plans and proved he could deliver under pressure — a trait that later helped him secure a World Cup spot in 2021.
Is Ashton Agar still active in professional cricket?
Yes. As of 2024, Agar continues to play for Western Australia in the Sheffield Shield and the Perth Scorchers in the Big Bash League. While no longer a regular in Australia’s international side, his consistent domestic performances and experience make him a valuable squad member if selectors need spin depth in limited-overs tournaments.
What makes Ashton Agar unique among Australian cricketers?
Agar is the only Australian cricketer to score a Test century-equivalent as a No. 11 and later become a T20I hat-trick taker. His career defies traditional roles: a spinner who bats like a top-order batter, a debutant who became a World Cup winner, and a player who reinvented himself after being discarded. Few have bridged the gap between Test shock and white-ball stalwart quite like him.
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