'I want to play cricket like he does' - Ashton Agar reveals Ravindra Jadeja as his favourite player in the world

Australia’s Ashton Agar hogged the limelight after he bagged a hat-trick against South Africa in the T20I opener at Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg. In the process, he became the second Australian to take a hat-trick in T20Is. It was not that easy to outsmart South African batsmen in three successive balls but Ashton Agar made it look easy.

The left-arm spinner dismantled South Africa batting attack with such ease and picked up five wickets. As a result, Australia beat South Africa by 107 runs and took a 1-0 lead in the three-match T20I series. Ashton Agar’s 5/24 in the match are the best bowling figures for an Australian bowler in the T20I version of the game.

‘I had a wonderful chat with Ravindra Jadeja’ – Ashton Agar

After stealing the spotlight against South Africa, Agar revealed his favourite player in the world. The Australian spinner highlighted that he aspires to become someone like India’s Ravindra Jadeja. Agar recalled the wonderful chat he had with Jadeja in the wake of India series while also describing him as his favourite player.

Ashton Agar reserved the highest respect for Ravindra Jadeja for his three-dimensional abilities and the former wants to play the game quite similar to that of how latter plays. “I had a wonderful chat with Ravindra Jadeja after the India series. He’s my favourite player in the world – I want to play cricket like he does. He’s an absolute rockstar: smacks them, gun fielder, and spins the ball,” ESPNcricinfo quoted Agar as saying.

“But it’s just his presence when he’s out there, watching his confidence… just talking to him about spin bowling, keep trying to spin the ball. When he’s batting he has a really positive attitude, and he takes that attitude into the field as well,” he added.

Ashton Agar’s splendid efforts helped Australia restrict South Africa for a paltry 89. Rightly so, Ashton Agar was named the Player of the Match for his top-class bowling performance. The drama unfolded in the eighth over, when Agar weaved magic to dismiss Faf du Plessis (24), Andile Phehlukwayo (0) and Dale Steyn (0) on successive balls to register a hat-trick that saw the hosts struggling at 44/7. Previously, Steve Smith and Aaron Finch chipped in with 45 and 42 respectively to help Australia post a colossal 196/6 in their allotted quota of 20 overs.

Australia will lock horns with South Africa in the second T20I on Sunday, February 23 at St George’s Park Cricket Ground in Port Elizabeth.