Ashton Agar’s game time against Scotland comes as preparation for upcoming difficult conditions

With its spot in the next stage of the T20 World Cup secured, Australia shook up its XI against Scotland. It saw Ashton Agar get the chance to dust off the cobwebs, but not Cameron Green. BEN HORNE explains why.

Ashton Agar was thrust into Australia’s XI to face Scotland because Australia senses it will be presented with a potentially treacherous wicket coming up against Afghanistan in the Super Eights.

Selectors felt it prudent to get a game into second spinner Agar (1-39), with an expectation they may need him for their match against Rashid Khan’s highly dangerous date with Afghanistan in St Vincent.

The reason for Cameron Green not getting a game in the dead-rubber against Scotland was also due to Australia trying to look into its Super Eights crystal ball.

Ashton Agar was granted game time in the clash with Scotland. Picture: Timothy A. Clary / AFP

It was felt Australia’s first-choice top six would benefit from having a hit in St Lucia on Sunday morning AEST because that’s the venue where they will face the might of India in a critical clash leading into the semi-finals.

South Africa were nearly upset by Nepal on the St Vincent surface where the ball is spinning sideways and Australia want to get Agar some much-needed match-practice in case he is summonsed against Afghanistan.

Agar bowled an excellent first over and took a wicket with his sixth ball, before copping some treatment after that – however, St Vincent is expected to be a lot more spin friendly than the batting wicket in St Lucia.

“I’ve just been looking at the wickets, the surfaces that we’re going to come up against,” National Selector George Bailey said.

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“In St Vincent, the ball was spinning between 5-7 degrees off the middle of the wicket.

“Deep in a tournament, when the same grounds are being used a lot, we’re starting to see some wickets that are starting to show a bit of fatigue in the West Indies.

“And as the tournament goes on, that’s what we’re going to see. A lot of the guys we’ve got in the group had got a bunch of cricket behind them, either through the IPL most recently or have played quite a bit in this team.

“But Ash, just coming off his injuries and the way we’ve structured up, when he has been available, just hasn’t been able to get much game time, as much as he’d probably like.”

Bailey said it was important for new captain Marsh to experience what it’s like to marshal an attack with two spinners, plus Glenn Maxwell.

Skipper Mitch Marsh will need to pass a fitness test after recovering from a hamstring injury. Picture: Ashley Allen/Getty Images

“For Mitch to be able to navigate what it’s like with a number of spinners in the team,” Bailey said.

“Every ground we’ve been there’s been a decent breeze and potentially a short side (boundary) and potentially how he navigates that and how he utilises the other bowlers around and how he incorporates Ash into the bowling group.”

Marsh is close to being passed fit to bowl in the Super Eights if required after recovering from a hamstring injury.

The skipper hurt his fingers dropping a catch against Scotland but is not an injury concern.

Australia gave thought to also blooding reserve batsman Green against Scotland, but felt it was important for the batsmen to maintain their continuity and familiarise themselves with the conditions they will face when head-to-head with India.

Selectors say Cameron Green’s recent IPL form holds him in good stead for T20 World Cup game time. Picture: Idrees Mohammed/AFP

Selectors felt Cameron Green is in good form from the IPL and didn’t need a match as badly as Agar.

“He’s got a really good run in the IPL. I think his game is in a really good place,” Bailey said.

“Potentially, in an ideal world you’d love to get the balance of being able to give everyone a game but you do need to offset that with making sure you give the guys that are playing the prep that they need and the opportunity to be able to keep their rhythm and continuity.

“We talked about, let’s see if we can give Greeny a game, but we are really confident that he’s in a good place. And if he does need to come in, his work in the IPL will hold him in good stead.”