Agar's 98: How a 19-year-old stunned the Ashes on debut
From The Ashes tells the inside story of Ashton Agar's record-breaking 98 at Nottingham as a 19-year-old debutant, the Worcester pub moment, and the enduring impact on Australian cricket.
Sport Insight
It felt like God’s hand on my brain — the day England were humbled by a teenager
- Published 18 November 2025
- 150 Comments
From the Ashes is a series of features and podcasts that dig into stories from cricket’s fiercest and most legendary Test series. Full interviews can be found on INLIBER Sounds, ahead of ball by ball coverage of the first Test between Australia and England in Perth on Friday.
Like many great stories, this one begins in a pub.
The Worcester pub tale framed how Ashton Agar learned he was in line for a Test debut at Trent Bridge.
Agar, then 19, was informed by captain Michael Clarke that he would debut in the first Ashes Test of 2013 at Trent Bridge. Cricket Australia later described the moment as one of the biggest Ashes bombshells in history.
His 98 on the second day in Nottingham remains the highest score by a number 11 in Test cricket. The moment attracted attention even from the late Queen Elizabeth II. Agar would play only two Ashes Tests, but his innings remains a landmark in cricket lore.
For From The Ashes listeners, Agar’s story sits within a chaotic period in Australian cricket history. He had debuted for Western Australia earlier in 2013 and, after two Sheffield Shield appearances, was brought into the Ashes squad as a surprise addition amid upheaval in India and England.
The main training session was two days before the first Test. Agar recalls being told to call his parents, who arrived in time for the cap presentation.
Agar was 19 years and 269 days old when he wore the baggy green. Only Pat Cummins and Sam Konstas have debuted younger for Australia this century.
It was a huge, unexpected moment kept under wraps to preserve the element of surprise against England, who would not have known much about this teenage bowler.
On day one, Agar bowled seven uneventful overs as England were dismissed for 215. The atmosphere in the stadium was electric, with Jerusalem playing to lift the crowd’s energy.
Agar kept his focus on his family in the stands as he prepared to bat at number 11 on the second day, with Australia trailing by 98 runs.
As the innings progressed, Agar found his rhythm. He withstood the pressure, then accelerated, striking boundaries off Swann and building a remarkable late-innings partnership with the tail. The narrative became one of resilience and poise beyond his years.
The partnership with the tail yielded a record 10th-wicket stand, and Agar’s contribution grew with each ball. The 98 stood as a landmark, a moment of elation for Australia, and a reminder of the drama that makes the Ashes such a spectacle.
The remainder of the series carried its own twists. Agar faced further challenges, including a finger injury that hampered his bowling at Lord’s, and a deeply emotional period after the death of Phil Hughes in 2014. Yet the Nottingham innings endures as a defining moment in the Ashes.
Two days after Hughes’s death, Agar reflected on the experience as a rare instance of sharing a moment of triumph with a teammate. He emphasised the importance of resilience and staying present under pressure, lessons that have guided his career since.
The Ashes: Australia v England
21 November 2025 - 7 January 2026
Listen on Sounds and follow ball-by-ball coverage on INLIBER platforms.
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