Ashton Agar claims a place in Ashes history

ASHTON Agar says he gave up Aussie Rules football because he was tired of being a "little fat kid ... getting smashed around".

ASHTON Agar says he gave up Aussie Rules football because he was tired of being a "little fat kid ... getting smashed around".

Today AFL's loss is cricket's gain, with the emergence of a new Australian hero who has batted himself into Ashes folklore.

Nineteen-year-old Agar is the toast of Australian cricket after he smashed a record-breaking 98 runs to turn the first Ashes Test against England on its head.

“It's been a great day, it's probably the best day so far in my life,” said Agar after stumps on the second day at Trent Bridge.

Australia were in dire straits at 117 for nine in reply to England's first innings 215 when the Western Australia left-arm spinner, making his Test debut, walked out to bat, joining Phil Hughes.

PICTURE GALLERY: Agar's amazing innings

“I was thinking we were in a little bit of trouble but saw the wicket was pretty good and if I could get myself in and get a partnership with Hughes we'd be OK,” Agar said later, in typically understated fashion.

Betraying few, if any nerves, the teenager struck a superb 98 off just 101 balls to record the highest ever score by a No 11 batsman in Test history, topping Tino Best's 95 for the West Indies against England at Edgbaston last year.

Together with Hughes (81 not out), he also shared a Test record last wicket stand of 163 that took Australia to 280 all out and a 65-run first innings lead.

“It's a dream come true. Forever, I've dreamt of playing Test cricket for Australia,” said Agar.

He also thanked new Australia coach Darren Lehmann for giving him the confidence to keep faith with his natural game.

“Darren Lehman just told me to bat the way I know how to bat.

“I was lucky to have a really good partner at the other end. Phil Hughes is a seriously, seriously good player and really helped me through it.”

Among the spectators at Trent Bridge who repeatedly applauded Agar for a succession of stylish shots that yielded 12 fours and two sixes were his parents John and Sonia and brothers William and Wesley, who are also promising cricketers.

“They were on a plane straightaway, once they found the news out (that he had been picked to play),” said Agar. “To have them there today made that extra-special to me.”

They and indeed the rest of the capacity 17,000 crowd were willing Agar to a hundred.

But Agar, who made a century in grade cricket for the University of Western Australia two winters ago, fell when he pulled Stuart Broad to Graeme Swann at deep midwicket, having surpassed his previous first-class best of 71 not out.

“Obviously, it's a dream to make a Test match hundred,” said Agar. “But I didn't really dream I was going to make 98 on debut, so I'm very, very happy.”

Agar's innings could have ended much earlier, had third umpire Marais Erasmus given him out stumped for only six - a desperately close call which could have gone either way.

But off-spinner Swann, the bowler denied Agar's wicket on that occasion, was the first England player to congratulate him after he was out.

“Graeme Swann came up and shook my hand and said `Well done, young fella'. He was very good about it,” Agar recalled.

While seemingly all of England was upset on his behalf, the ever-humble youngster had an apology of his own to make as he walked out for England's second innings.

He found his parents and offered a short apology for not reaching three figures.

“He's always been a very level-headed young man,” his mother Sonia Agar said. “When he hit that shot I thought it was going for four, but it didn't matter, he'd done his job.”

From being almost entirely anonymous 30 hours beforehand, Agar was suddenly being being Tweeted by Prime Minister Kevin Rudd as he wandered off.

Tino Best also weighed in.

“I'm feeling your pain lad ... records are to be broken,” the West Indian quick Tweeted.

“Must say we number 11 batters, in Agar and myself, love this English bowling attack. “SweetLikeSugarCane”

Six weeks ago, Agar was playing club cricket for Henley in Oxfordshire but although he'd played only 10 first-class matches before this test, his unbeaten 71 for Western Australia against Tasmania in Perth and his average of 33.6 suggested he was anything but a rabbit.

The aspiring lawyer's selection as Australia's lone spinner ahead of Nathan Lyon was a major surprise, and his first ball in test cricket was a full toss that was swatted for four by Jonathan Trott.

Subsequent figures of 16-4-53-0 were unspectacular and Agar was asked if he would swap a test hundred for a five-wicket haul.

“I'd take either one but I didn't get the hundred so I'd take the five-for now,” he joked. “I've been called into the side to take wickets and I'm still very, very hungry for that first wicket. I see myself as a bowling allrounder.”

At Henley, Agar's teammates were today celebrating the success of the man they call “Scotty” because of his resemblance to Australia's US Masters golf champion Adam Scott.

“He actually batted five for us, he batted seven for Western Australia so we gave him a promotion,” said Bjorn Mordt, the Henley captain.

“I was quite surprised to see him down at number 11 - he's not your normal bunny.”

Agar went to Henley through a development scheme Cricket Australia have with southern first-class county Hampshire, who released him to the club to gain more game time.

“He's just a great kid, he settled in really quickly, he's a lovely bloke,” said Mordt.

Agar has yet to take a Test wicket but Mordt said that was just a matter of time for a man who has 31 first-class wickets to his name.

“He's also probably the best spinner I've seen, he's got great control, he's got a slider and a good good arm ball, he took a hat-trick for us with three arm balls.

“He just doesn't seem to get fazed, pressure never seems to build on him.”

As for giving up on Aussie Rules, Agar insisted: “Cricket was always my number one.

“I did play a bit of junior `footy' -- but everyone grew a lot quicker than me.

“I was just the little fat kid getting smashed around, so I thought I'd give that a break.”

Agencies