Everyone wants to play against a player like Virat Kohli: Ashton Agar

Ashton Agar also said he took tips from Gautam Gambhir on field settings before coming here. (Source: PTI)

Australia ‘A’ all-rounder Ashton Agar said his side is excited about taking on India Test skipper Virat Kohli when he turns up for India ‘A’ in the final four-day cricket match starting in Chennai on Wednesday but insisted that there is no specific plan to tackle the star batsman.

“We do not have a huge strategy to bowl against him. We focus a little bit on the opposition but we focus on ourselves more. It will be a good chance because everyone wants to play against a player like Virat Kohli. I think everyone is excited by the opportunity and want to have his wicket,” Agar said in the pre-match press conference.

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As for his assessment of the wicket for the match, the 24-year-old Agar, who has played in two Test matches for Australia, said, “To be honest, I have no knowledge on assessing the wickets. I have seen the wicket. I am not sure about how the wicket will be behaving.”

“I am not very experienced in these conditions. I am just going to wait and see and then make my assessment and adapt quickly,” he said.

On whether all his teammates are fit for the match, the all-rounder said, “Nic Maddinson has gone home due to a finger injury. Everyone else is ready to go and we have a good squad here. We are looking forward to the match.”

Talking about his comeback to competitive cricket after a shoulder surgery, Agar said, “I am quite well. It has been about 15 weeks now. The strength is improving and the range has improved. I may not be diving in the field but everything else is okay.”

Also a left-arm spinner, Agar said he took tips from Gautam Gambhir on field settings before coming here when the Indian batsman had come down to Perth for a training stint.

“I have the required pace to bowl on these wickets in the sub-continent. The batsmen pick the ball quickly to cut or pull. So, I have to adjust very quickly to the way they are playing me.”

“I have learnt what sort of field to set from the first ball itself. I talked to Gautam Gambhir when he was in Perth for two weeks. It was a great experience because he played against me there. He gave me some feedback before I came here now,” he said.