Record breakers – Ashton Agar and Phillip Hughes

The young gun of Australia, Ashton Agar, created a Test record by becoming the highest scorer at no.11 and registered the tallest partnership with Phillip Hughes.

Agar plundered 98 runs while batting at the last no. and an association of 163 runs with Hughes was another limelight in Test cricket.

The Ashes – 1st Test which started on July 10, 2013, is being played between the two arch rivals Australia and England at Trent Bridge, Nottingham. The first innings of England was squeezed for 215 in 59 overs on the opening day of the Test. The visitors were in hot soup at 9-117 on the second day when the young debutant, Ashton Agar, appeared in the center.  The hosts were anticipating folding the first innings of the Kangaroos quickly but they had to wait long for success.

Phillip Hughes and Ashton Agar - Historical innings
Phillip Hughes and Ashton Agar – Historical innings

Phillip Hughes was at the other end with 21 and things were looking gloomy for the tourists. The batsmen put their heads down against the lethal bowling of the English bowlers and Agar commenced playing his brave knock. They surpassed the total of the home side in the 53rd over when Hughes hit three boundaries off Stuart Broad. Ashton Agar opted to attack, he played his shots at will and punished all the bowlers he faced. He dispatched his maiden Test fifty on the last ball of the 49th over while stealing two runs. Ashton Agar was close to become the only no.11 batsman to score a ton but was dismissed for 98 off 101 balls with 2 big sixes and 12 fours. Phillip Hughes scored 81 from 131 comprising 9 fours, the last wicket fell at 280 and Australia gained a vital first innings lead of 65 runs.

Tino Best (West Indies) previously held the record of the most runs scored by the No.11 batsman. The 3rd Test of the series was played against England on June 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11, 2012, at Edgbaston, Birmingham. Best walked in to bat after the Windies lost their 9th wicket at 283 runs and Denesh Ramdin was at the crease for 63 runs. Ramdin secured his end by thrashing 107 runs whereas Best was the 10th batsman to be dismissed for 95 runs.

Ashton Agar along with Phillip Hughes recorded the highest 10th wicket partnership by hammering 163 runs.  The previous record of 151 was held by Brian Hastings and Richard Collinge (New Zealand) against Pakistan in the third Test on February 16, 1973, at Eden Park, Auckland. The visitors scored 402 runs in their first innings and the hosts were struggling at 9-251 when the duo got together.  Hastings went on to smash 110 runs before he was bowled out and Collinge remained unbeaten for 68 while the Black Caps reached 402.

Ashton Agar received a standing ovation from the crowd present in the stadium, England team in the field along with his team mates and their administrative staff once he walked off the field and he acknowledged it by waving his willow. The 19-year-old is a left arm spinner and has proved that he will be a future star of Australia in cricket fields and will serve his nation for a long time to come. The solid support of Phillip Hughes at the other end ended up in brining a new record and it will take time to beat it.


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