Australian cricketer Ashton Agar, who serves as a left-arm spin all-rounder, will be heading back home from the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy Test tour in India. Agar is expected to play Sheffield Shield and Marsh Cup matches for his domestic team, Western Australia.
According to a report from ESPNCricinfo, there will be no new additions to Australia's Test squad ahead of the third Border-Gavaskar Trophy Test, set to take place at the Holkar Stadium in Indore starting on March 1. However, Agar is expected to participate in the upcoming three-game ODI series in India, commencing on March 17 in Mumbai.
Agar's departure comes as Australia's squad has already been hit with injuries. Josh Hazlewood and David Warner have both returned home due to their respective injuries, while Agar remains fully fit and available to participate in Western Australia's next Sheffield Shield game on March 2 and the 50-over Marsh Cup final, which WA will host on March 8.
Despite being one of the four spinners on the squad, Agar was not selected for the first Test in Nagpur, with off spinner Todd Murphy making his Test debut instead. In the second Test in New Delhi, Australia opted for three spinners, but Agar was not selected, with fellow left-arm spinner Matthew Kuhnemann making his Test debut.
Agar will return to India in March with the ODI squad, where he will be an important part of Australia's plans ahead of the World Cup in India later in the year.
India currently leads the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series 2-0 after winning the first two matches. The third match will be played in Indore from March 1-5, followed by the fourth and final game at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad from March 9-13.