Ashes 2013 1st Test: Five things Australia can take away

Ashton Agar

2. Ashton Agar’s potential

The biggest positive for Australia in this Test match was that they unearthed a gem in the 19-year-old debutant Ashton Agar. He was instrumental in keeping Australia in the game as he bailed out the first innings from a dismal 117/9 to a total of 280 runs.

His innings was marked by a maturity rarely seen in a number eleven batsman, perhaps present because he is definitely not one, but yet the ease with which he absorbed the pressure was astonishing.

Batting with Phil Hughes, he played his game negotiating competently against one of the world’s best spinners. He was not afraid of playing his shots as he had nothing to lose.

However, still more impressive to the author was his performance with the ball. He looks like a replica of the young Daniel Vettori. He bowled with great heart in the second innings picking up the crucial wicket of Alastair Cook and finished with figures of 2/82 in his 35 overs.

He should have had the wicket of Stuart Broad but that was unfortunate. Australia need to harness his potential and help him develop into what he can become.