Quick Answer
Ashton Agar is an Australian left-arm spin bowler and lower-order batter who announced himself to the cricket world in the most unlikely way possible, scoring 98 runs at number 11 on his Test debut in the 2013 Ashes, still the highest score ever by a number 11 batter in Test history. Since that sensational start, he has settled into life as one of Australia’s most reliable white ball options, winning the 2021 T20 World Cup and building a long, respected career with Perth Scorchers in the Big Bash League. He has represented Australia in all three formats, taken more than 200 international wickets combined, and remains one of the most recognisable spin-bowling all-rounders in the country.
This guide covers the full story of his career, from that unforgettable Trent Bridge innings to his current role as a senior figure at the Scorchers, along with every number from his international, First Class, List A and BBL record.
Full Biography at a Glance
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Ashton Charles Agar |
| Nickname | Larry |
| Born | 14 October 1993, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia |
| Age | 32 |
| Height | 1.89 m (6 ft 2 in) |
| Batting Style | Left handed |
| Bowling Style | Slow left-arm orthodox |
| Playing Role | Bowler |
| School | De La Salle College, Melbourne |
| Heritage | Sri Lankan mother, Sonia Hewawissa |
| Test Debut | 10 July 2013, vs England |
| Domestic Team | Western Australia |
| BBL Team | Perth Scorchers |
| Honour | 2021 T20 World Cup winner with Australia |
How Did Ashton Agar Make One of the Most Famous Test Debuts in History?
Agar’s rise to the top level of cricket happened almost by accident. At just 19 years old, he travelled on Australia’s 2013 tour of India in a support role, only to be sensationally promoted into the squad for that year’s Ashes series in England. He made his Test debut at Trent Bridge on 10 July 2013, walking out to bat at number 11 with Australia in deep trouble at 117 for 9.
What followed became one of the most famous innings in Test history. Agar struck 98 runs off 101 balls, sharing a world record 163 run last wicket partnership with Phillip Hughes, the highest ever for the tenth wicket in Test cricket, and falling agonisingly short of what would have been an extraordinary century on debut. He also picked up Alastair Cook as his first Test wicket in the same match, becoming the first teenage Australian spinner to take a Test wicket. It remains the highest score by a number 11 batter in Test history.
How Did Ashton Agar Become a White Ball Specialist for Australia?
Despite the fairytale start, Agar’s Test career did not follow a smooth path. He played only a handful of Tests over the following decade, his last coming in January 2023 against South Africa, with a strong first-choice bowling attack limiting his opportunities in the longest format. Rather than fade away, he shifted his focus toward white-ball cricket, making his ODI debut in September 2015 and his T20I debut in March 2016.
That shift paid off. Agar became a regular and trusted figure in Australia’s white ball squads over the following years, and he was part of the squad that won the 2021 T20 World Cup in the UAE and Oman, arguably the biggest team honour of his career. Along the way, he also produced one of the rarer feats in the format, becoming the only Australian bowler to ever take six wickets in a single T20I innings.
How Did Ashton Agar Build His Long Career With Perth Scorchers?
Agar’s domestic story has been built almost entirely around Western Australia and Perth Scorchers, whom he joined ahead of the 2013 14 BBL season not long after his Test debut. He has been a fixture in the Scorchers lineup ever since, and by the 2022 23 season he had already climbed to become the club’s fourth-highest wicket-taker and tenth-highest run-scorer of all time.
His standout individual BBL season came in BBL|11, when he won the Simon Katich Medal as the club’s best and fairest player, a campaign that also ended in a Scorchers title win. Across county cricket, he has also added experience in England, playing for Middlesex in 2018, Warwickshire in 2019 and Northamptonshire in 2024, alongside stints in the ILT20 in the UAE.
How Did Ashton Agar Fight Through Injury in 2024 25?
Agar’s most recent domestic season showed a different side of his career: resilience rather than record-breaking. In the 2024 25 Sheffield Shield season, he took 15 wickets in just 6 matches before shoulder injury concerns forced him out of the side in November 2024. In one of those matches against Victoria, he batted one-handed to add crucial runs for Western Australia, a small but telling detail about how much he continued to contribute even while managing a serious physical setback.
What Do Ashton Agar’s Career Stats Look Like?
His international and First Class numbers reflect a genuine all-rounder who has contributed with both bat and ball across every format he has played.
International and First-Class Record
| Format | Matches | Runs | Highest Score | Batting Average | Wickets | Best Bowling | Bowling Average |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Test | 5 | 195 | 98 | 32.50 | 9 | 3/46 | 52.00 |
| ODI | 22 | 322 | 48* | 24.76 | 21 | 2/31 | 45.61 |
| T20I | 49 | 279 | 29 | 11.62 | 49 | 6/30 | 23.04 |
| First Class (FC) | 67 | 2,412 | 114* | 28.37 | 165 | 6/110 | 40.76 |
List A and Domestic T20 Record
| Format | Matches | Runs | Highest Score | Batting Average | Wickets | Best Bowling | Bowling Average |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| List A (One Day) | 77 | 1,047 | 64 | 23.26 | 93 | 5/39 | 34.07 |
| Domestic T20 (Total, All Leagues) | 174 | 1,408 | 68 | 16.76 | 137 | 6/30 | 29.59 |
What Is Ashton Agar’s BBL Only Record?
Since the Domestic T20 total above includes his time in England and the ILT20, his BBL only career numbers with Perth Scorchers are worth pulling out separately, and they tell the story of a genuine club legend.
Batting
| Matches | Innings | Runs | Highest Score | Average | Strike Rate | Not Outs | Sixes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 100 | 69 | 794 | 68 | 16.54 | 117.28 | 21 | 33 |
Bowling
| Matches | Innings | Wickets | Best Bowling | Average | Economy | Strike Rate | 5 Wicket Hauls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 100 | 94 | 73 | 3/19 | 31.88 | 7.34 | 26.05 | 0 |
Reaching 100 BBL matches for a single club, alongside 73 wickets and a title-winning best and fairest season, places him firmly among the most enduring and respected players in Perth Scorchers history.
What Records and Honours Does Ashton Agar Hold?
- Holds the record for the highest score by a number 11 batter in Test history, 98 runs on debut in 2013
- Shared a world record 163-run tenth-wicket Test partnership with Phillip Hughes
- First teenage Australian spinner to take a Test wicket
- Winner of the 2021 T20 World Cup with Australia
- Only Australian bowler to take six wickets in a single T20I innings
- Winner of the Simon Katich Medal as Perth Scorchers’ best and fairest player in BBL|11
- BBL title winner with Perth Scorchers in the 2021 22 season
- Reached 100 BBL matches for Perth Scorchers, ranking among the club’s all-time leading wicket-takers and run-scorers
FAQs
Who is Ashton Agar?
Ashton Agar is an Australian slow left-arm spin bowler and lower-order batter who plays for Western Australia and the Perth Scorchers, and who won the 2021 T20 World Cup with Australia.
What is Ashton Agar’s BBL record?
Across 100 BBL matches for Perth Scorchers, he has scored 794 runs at a strike rate above 117 and taken 73 wickets at an economy of 7.34.
What happened on Ashton Agar’s Test debut?
He scored 98 runs batting at number 11 against England at Trent Bridge in 2013, the highest ever score by a number 11 in Test history, sharing a world record last-wicket partnership with Phillip Hughes.
Why did Ashton Agar stop playing Tests regularly?
A strong first-choice Australian bowling attack limited his Test opportunities over the years, and he shifted his focus toward white-ball cricket, where he became a regular international performer.
Has Ashton Agar won any global titles?
Yes. He was part of Australia’s squad that won the 2021 T20 World Cup in the UAE and Oman.
What injury setback did Ashton Agar face recently?
He was sidelined by shoulder injury concerns during the 2024 25 Sheffield Shield season, after taking 15 wickets in 6 matches, and even batted one-handed in one match against Victoria before his injury forced him out.
Has Ashton Agar played county cricket in England?
Yes. He has played for Middlesex in 2018, Warwickshire in 2019, and Northamptonshire in 2024.
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