Fit-again Agar hopeful of Australia return

Ashton Agar had a stellar start to his international career when he struck 98, the Test record for a No. 11 on debut in the 2013 Ashes. But he has yet to impress in his primary role, as a left-arm spinner and a shoulder injury has not helped. After being sidelined for four months from March to July, he is ready to get back to cricket and hopes to play the second unofficial Test against India A on Wednesday.

"It's been about 15 weeks [since the shoulder surgery]," Agar said. "The strength is improving, the range is improving. It has improved enough to allow me to play in this game. I won't be diving in the field, but everything else is okay."

Agar got a surprise call-up for the fourth Test against India at the SCG, but he did not get to play. His last competitive game was the Sheffield Final in March. Playing for Western Australia, he took four wickets and scored a 44 not out in the first innings. He stressed that his ultimate goal was to have a long career with Australia, rather than making sporadic appearances.

"That's the ultimate goal, to play for Australia. You want to have a career for Australia, not just a few games here and there." he said.

"It means a lot, playing Ashes cricket, it's enormous. The boys are really enjoying it now, the series one-all. There is a huge amount of pride if you're playing for your country and in the Ashes its hiked up even more."

Agar also added that the Australians would relish the challenge of playing against Virat Kohli, who had requested the BCCI to let him play in Chennai so as to gain match practice ahead of the Sri Lanka tour.

"It will be a good challenge for everyone to play against a player like Virat Kohli. I think everyone is excited about the opportunity and everyone is going to want to have his wicket."

Agar has been to India before, with the senior side in 2013 and was not worried about playing on slow pitches. He said that a chat with Gautam Gambhir in Perth had helped understand and adapt to how batsman tackle spinners.

"I learnt the pace that I need to bowl on these wickets, I learnt how the batters like to play, how their use their feet and maybe got a bit shorter and then sit back and cut the ball or pull the ball," Agar said.

"So they pick up the lengths quickly, so I have to adjust very quickly to the way they are playing me. I have learnt what sort of fields I need to set from the first ball. I have spoken to Gautam Gambhir. He was with Justin [Langer] in Western Australia just before I came in from Perth for two weeks. It was a great experience. He played against me in a game. So, he could give some feedback and that was quite valuable coming here."