Australian wrist-spinner –Ashton Agar on Monday said he is ready to bowl at the most dangerous pitch at the Eden Park in Auckland, where Australia and New Zealand will face each other in the final of the Trans-Tasman tri-series 2018.
On Friday (16 February), Australia had to chased down a huge total of 243 at Eden Park, although it was not a big challenge for the Kangaroos as stand-in skipper David Warner’s 59 and D Arcy Short's gritty 76 made easy for Australia to chase down the target in 18.5 overs.
Meanwhile, Wednesday’s encounter will be another run-fest for both side’s aggressive batsman in Auckland, and the same time, it will a terrifying game for the bowlers, but the 24-year-old said he will try his best and keep trying to find ways to save runs for his team.
According to a report in AAP, Ashton Agar told reporters, “Number one [challenge wise] absolutely. I've played against a few players that have hit me for plenty of sixes before in T20 cricket but I've never played on a ground like this. Especially Munro (and Guptill) - they're trying to hit you for six every ball. So, it was pretty interesting. It was a massive challenge but I was pretty relaxed about it.”
He further said, “I'd accepted before the game that if I get hit, I've just got to turn around, keep a smile on my face and try my best the next ball, and that's how the whole team went about it. I'm pleased with the way I'm bowling. I think I've been used really well, I think 'Bull' (stand-in skipper David Warner) has captained me really smartly and bowled me at good times as well. I'm proud of my T20 form at the moment, it's been a lot of bowling and a lot of effort that's gone into it.”
Commenting on Eden Park track for the final encounter, the spinner said, "It depends with rain around and how long the wicket's under covers. I imagine it'll be fairly similar but if it does dry it out, it might spin a little bit more. That would be nice, to bowl on this small ground with a bit of turn. That might help a bit."
He also believes that it will be a challenge for the visitors, who are used to play at larger grounds in Australia, to make adjustments in New Zealand, and want to play with similar pyrotechnics like they did on Friday to win the Tri-series against the Black Caps.
Agar signed off by saying, “We might be able to go about it a little bit smarter. Just working on our lengths and matching our balls to our fields. If they're hitting us off a really tough length, well played to them. But some people are going to get away to a flyer here. You just look at how short it is straight - you're on the ring and you feel like you're on the fence. It's a really unique ground and things are going to happen differently here. You've just got to bounce back and keep trying to find ways to slow them down.
