Ashton Agar was acclaimed a national sporting hero by Australia's press yesterday after the youngster's record-breaking 98 on debut that has turned the opening Ashes Test against England.
Tagged Australia’s unlikely hero, the 19-year-old demoralised the England bowling with the highest score by a Test number 11 in a potential match-changing 163-run last wicket partnership with Phil Hughes that had England fighting grimly by second day stumps with a 15-run lead and eight wickets in hand.
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Ashton Agar
The tabloid Sydney Daily Telegraph devoted four pages to Agar’s heroics, under the banner headline “Our 11th Hour Saviour”, while The Australian emblazoned “Agar the capable saves Aussies’ batting pride”.
Australian pace great and fellow number 11 Glenn McGrath said Agar’s innings may have set the tone for the rest of the Ashes for Australia, who went into the five Tests series as underdogs.
“That was a big innings for this series. It could have really set the tone for the rest of the series,” McGrath told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
Leg-spin legend Shane Warne tweeted: “Wow !!!! Congrats to Mr Agar. Well done buddy, awesome... Wickets for you now too please.”
The country’s newspapers were full of praise for Agar, who was only brought to England originally as a “development player” for the first two Tests and now may become an indispensable team member.
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