Ashton Agar set to return to Australia to play domestic cricket

Australia’s spin-bowling all-rounder Ashton Agar will be returning home to play domestic cricket for Western Australia, ESPNcricinfo reported on Wednesday (February 22). The 29-year-old, however, is expected to return for the three-match ODI series (March 17-23).

Australia, who are 2-0 down in the four-match Test series, are already without David Warner and Josh Hazlewood for the last two games. The two are currently injured and already back in Australia. However, there is no injury concern with Agar and he is being let go because the visitors already have enough spinners in the squad.

Nathan Lyon was always going to be Australia’s premier spinner but even Todd Murphy and Matthew Kuhnemann have been preferred over Agar. Mitchell Swepson, who went home for the birth of his first child, will also join the set-up ahead of the third Test in Indore, which starts on March 1. 

Australian skipper Pat Cummins is also expected to be back before the Indore Test. No additions are being made to the squad as Cameron Green and Mitchell Starc have both recovered from their respective injuries and are available for selection.

India have already retained the Border-Gavaskar trophy, defeating Australia by an innings and 132 runs in Nagpur before winning the Delhi Test by six wickets.