Why is Ashton Agar not playing today’s ICC T20 World Cup match between Australia and South Africa?

Dixit Bhargav | 23/10/2021
Why is Ashton Agar not playing today's ICC T20 World Cup match between Australia and South Africa?

Ashton Agar not playing: Australia have made a massive decision by not including their reliable spin-bowling all-rounder.

During the 13th match of the ongoing ICC T20 World Cup 2021 between Australia and South Africa in Abu Dhabi, Australia captain Aaron Finch has won the toss and chose to field.

“We would like to bowl first. Looks like a good wicket, can’t see things changing a lot during the course of the game. We have a lot of experience in the side, we haven’t played as a group, but we’re looking forward to this tournament,” Finch said at the toss.

Leading South Africa for the first time in a global event, captain Temba Bavuma acknowledged the “privilege” and “responsibility” upon him in this World Cup.

“It’s been a privilege to lead the team in the tournament, big responsibility and looking forward to it. Our preparations have been good, have played a lot together We are coming off with some real momentum, not worried about any favourites tag, but we have to stay true to expectations – we have confidence in our team and we’ll look to do well,” Bavuma said at the toss.

Why is Ashton Agar not playing today’s match vs South Africa?

Talking about their Playing XI, Finch put forward a brave decision in the form of benching all-rounder Ashton Agar for this match. The development means that Australia will take the field with a tried and tested fast-bowling trio of Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins.

“Tough selection choices, but Ashton Agar, Kane Richardson, Josh Inglis and Mitch Swepson miss out,” Finch added. Readers must note that Agar has been Australia’s highest T20I wicket-taker in the last four years picking 41 wickets at an average of 21.17, an economy rate of 6.57 and a strike rate of 19.3.

South Africa, on the other hand, have refrained themselves from making such a significant change in their tournament opener at the Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium today.

Post Edited By: Dixit Bhargav
ashton agar Australia ICC T20 World Cup 2021 South Africa

About the author

Dixit Bhargav

Born and brought up in Pathankot, Dixit Bhargav is an engineering and sports management graduate who works as a Cricket Editor at The SportsRush. Having written more than 10,000 articles across more than five years at TSR, his first cricketing memory dates back to 2002 when former India captain Sourav Ganguly had waved his jersey at the historic Lord’s balcony. What followed for an 8-year-old was an instant adulation for both Ganguly and the sport. The optimist in him is waiting for the day when Punjab Kings will win their maiden Indian Premier League title. When not watching cricket, he is mostly found in a cinema hall watching a Punjabi movie.

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