Excited about playing against Virat Kohli: Ashton Agar

Australia A all-rounder Ashton Agar yesterday said his side is excited about taking on India Test skipper Virat Kohli when he turns up for India A in the final four-day cricket match starting here tomorrow

Chennai: Australia A all-rounder Ashton Agar today said his side is excited about taking on India Test skipper Virat Kohli when he turns up for India A in the final four-day cricket match starting here tomorrow but insisted that there is no specific plan to tackle the star batsman.


India's Test skipper Virat Kohli bats in the nets on Monday in Chennai. Pic/PTI 

"We do not have a huge strategy to bowl against him. We focus a little bit on the opposition but we focus on ourselves more. It will be a good chance because everyone wants to play against a player like Virat Kohli. I think everyone is excited by the opportunity and want to have his wicket," Agar said in the pre-match press conference.

As for his assessment of the wicket for tomorrow's match, the 24-year-old Agar, who has played in two Test matches for Australia, said, "To be honest, I have no knowledge on assessing the wickets. I have seen the wicket. I am not sure about how the wicket will be behaving today." "I am not very experienced in these conditions.

I am just going to wait and see and then make my assessment and adapt quickly," he said. On whether all his teammates are fit for the match tomorrow, the all-rounder said, "Nic Maddinson has gone home due to a finger injury. Everyone else is ready to go and we have a good squad here. We are looking forward to the match."

Talking about his comeback to competitive cricket after a shoulder surgery, Agar said, "I am quite well. It has been about 15 weeks now. The strength is improving and the range has improved. I may not be diving in the field but everything else is okay."

Also a left-arm spinner, Agar said he took tips from Gautam Gambhir on field settings before coming here when the Indian batsman had come down to Perth for a training stint. "I have the required pace to bowl on these wickets in the sub-continent. The batsmen pick the ball quickly to cut or pull. So, I have to adjust very quickly to the way they are playing me."

"I have learnt what sort of field to set from the first ball itself. I talked to Gautam Gambhir when he was in Perth for two weeks. It was a great experience because he played against me there. He gave me some feedback before I came here now," he said.

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