Australian all-rounder Ashton Agar etched his name in record books after he claimed his T20 international career’s maiden hat-trick in the first game against South Africa at the Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg.
The left-arm spinner, on Friday, guided Australia to crush the Proteas in the three-match series opener by 107 runs. Agar’s triple-strike hurtled the Quinton de Kock-led side to it’s all-time lowest score of 89. It was also the biggest defeat of hosts in the shortest format.
Agar, who went on to take five-wicket haul before his 9-ball 20 runs innings with a 222-plus strike-rate, was honored with the ‘Player of the Match’ award.
After the incredible performance, the 26-year-old revealed how a chat with Indian all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja inspired him for his match-winning performance.
Jadeja, who’s known for his spine-tingling efforts in the out-field, spoke to Agar during Australia’s tour of India last month and left an impression on the 26-year-old Aussie player.
“He’s [Jadeja] my favorite player in the world – I want to play cricket like he does,” said Agar.
“He’s an absolute rockstar. He smacks them, gun fielder, and spins the ball. But it’s just his presence when he’s out there, watching him filled me with confidence,” added the left-armer.
“And just talking to him about spin bowling, (he said to) 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,” the Melbourne-born added further.
“So, I was pretty inspired by talking to him (Jadeja),” signed off Agar.
Agar became the second Australian to take a hat-trick in T20Is. Before him, veteran Aussie pacer Brett Lee accomplished such feat in the inaugural T20 World Cup against Bangladesh in Cape Town.
