Ashton Agar joins Nathan Coulter-Nile in criticising 'vague' communication from selectors

Ashton Agar has become the second player in a week to take a swipe at Australia's selectors after being left out of the ODI squad for the upcoming three-match series against India.

Western Australia and Perth Scorchers team-mate Nathan Coulter-Nile on Saturday made his frustrations known about the communication surrounding his omission from the ODI squad and Agar has followed suit on Monday, joking that he "mustn't have run the drinks well enough" during the series against South Africa.

Agar was part of the ODI squad for the three-match series against South Africa in November but did not play any of the matches. He said the communication regarding the reasons for his omission weren't clear compared to previous experience.

"Recently, it has been pretty vague, to be honest," Agar said. "I got told pretty much just keep trying to get better. That's what I was told. I guess I mustn't have run the drinks well enough last time, because I didn't really get a crack at that before.

"This one was probably a little bit tougher because it was a little bit confusing. But it is what it is. All I can do now is get better. Find ways to evolve as a cricketer and really just have fun. I'm just going to do it my way now and really enjoy it. If that means opportunities come, they come."

Australia's Test captain Tim Paine was asked about the communication between selectors and players after the Sydney Test match and said he felt it was fine. "I've personally never had an issue," Paine said.

"The selectors are doing their best to communicate with everyone. When players get dropped they are normally not too happy so it's a difficult situation to be in."

Agar did stress that the communication to him previously had been very clear. "I think generally with me the communication has been pretty good, especially in the past," Agar said. "Pretty much it was just that Nathan Lyon is bowling really well and Zamps (Adam Zampa) gives us a legspinning option. But I guess that probably had nothing to do with me as such."

Agar has had a strange couple of months. Between September 19 and December 19, he played in only three matches at either first-class, List A or T20 level despite being fully fit. In the same period, Lyon played nine while Zampa played 16.

Agar was part of the Australian Test squad for the series against Pakistan in the UAE but did not play. He was also in the T20I squad but only played two of the four matches against Pakistan and UAE.

He returned to Australia and was included in the ODI and T20I squads but again didn't play a single game, but was not released to play domestic cricket. He then played one Sheffield Shield match against New South Wales before he was rested by Western Australia for the game against Victoria in order to freshen up prior to the BBL.

Agar has been solid with the ball in six matches in the BBL, taking five wickets at 21.20 at an economy rate of just 6.23. He is still hopeful of returning to national colours.

"Looking forward there's a one-day tour to India coming up as well," Agar said. "So fingers crossed. I just have to put good numbers on the board across the Big Bash and then you get selected from there."