Comments from Asanga and Dinouk, 12 June 2013
On 12 July 2013 08:09, Dinouk Colombage <dinoukc@gmail.com> wrote:
Boof certainly has the “Australia” grit of yesteryear that they are lacking. In some ways he would fit in more with the Merv Hughes era than that which he played in. For Australia, they need to look back to the mid-80s where under Border they learnt to win. I think yesterday was a glimpse of a team who is ready to win, even if it isn’t pretty.On Fri, Jul 12, 2013 at 12:32 PM, Asanga Welikala <awelikala@gmail.com> wrote: Sacking that tinpot Napoleon, Arthur, and putting Clarke in his place, was the most inspired decision of Cricket Australia in ages. The whole turn around with “Boof” is amazing – anyway, I prefer eating-drinking buggers…On 12 July 2013 07:58, Dinouk Colombage <dinoukc@gmail.com> wrote:
There was actually his cover drive, i believe off Finn, which was pleasing to the eye. He showed what Australia, and now Sri Lanka, is really lacking. The no-fear approach that I assume comes from youth. Hats off to Lehmann also for taking the punt and selecting him. I believe both he and Smith were added as permanent members of the squad only after Mickey Arthur and Michael Clarke were sacked and relieved of selector duties respectively.A Previous Note from Asanga Welikala: Well, what a debut from Ashton Agar at Trent Bridge – the first (half) Ceylonese to play for Australia. Never mind all the smashed records, he would relish playing back the rapturous comments from Boycs. Very touching to see his mother Sonia too, who I understand is Kandyan Sinhalese and not Burgher as I’d thought.The man himself says his favourite shot of the innings was the six off Swann over long on, equally good was the four straight back over Anderson’s head.A Comment from the Editor of Cricketique and Thuppahi; ASHTON AGAR is the son of John Agar and Sonia Agar nee Hewawisa; who herself is the daughter of Nala and Sheila Hewawisa with Sheila being Sheila Plunkett (both parents now deceased). The Plunkett family are Burghers of British descent. Thus, Sonia Agar nee Hewawisa is quintessentially thuppahi in my sense of the term and so too are the Ashton boys. Sheila’s sister Carmaline married Ron Forbes, brother of Earlson Forbes in Sydney now (one of my old Pera pals) Note too that Nala Hewawisa played cricket for Dharmarajah College Kandy while John Agar is from a cricketing family associated with Prahran CC, Melbourne. Michael Roberts
A Note from Quintus de Zylwa a few years back: “Ashton Agar – Proud to be of Sri Lankan heritage”
Ashton Agar is featured here. He is just eighteen years of age and has been selected by Cricket Australia to attend the Centre of Excellence on a scholarship for three months commencing in May this year. He represented Australia in the Under 19 quadrangular series in Townsville in April this year playing against India, New Zealand and England. He took eight wickets at an average of 25.75 with an economy rate of 4.20. He is a left arm spinner who has represented Victoria in the Under 15,17 and 19 teams and Australia in the Under 16 and 19 teams.Ashton’s father John played for the Prahran Cricket Club. Ashton is the grandson of Nala Hewawissa who played cricket for Dharmarajah College Kandy. The Rajans have honoured him by naming a trophy after him – which is presented at the annual Kingswood-Dharmarajah match. Sheilagh Hewawissa was his grandmother – she worked for the Ceylon Tea Board as secretary to Mohammed Iqbal who is now the Honorary Consul in Auckland . The Centre of Excellence Head Coach Troy Cooley said ” the development of the Australian Institute of Sport players will be crucial to Australia regaining it’s title as the No. 1 side in the world”. Ashton has had to postpone entry in to Deakin University to do a degree in Law…..Quintus de Zylva (Chairman – Sri Lanka Cricket Foundation of Victoria)
***** *****
“11 things you may not know about Ashton Agar,”
Staff Writers Daily Telegraph
HE’S the man of the moment. Ashton Agar, 19, has cemented his place in Australia’s sporting history with his heroics on debut in the First Ashes Test at Trent Bridge. Here are 10 things you may not know about Ashton Agar.
1. Ashton was born in Victoria on October 14, 1993. His mother, Sonia, is from Sri Lanka and his father, John, was a former grade cricket grade player in Victoria.
2. He has two younger brothers, William, 17 and Wesley, 16. Both are good cricketers. After his Ashes heroics, Ashton told reporters he modelled himself on William. Their cricketing started with games on the driveway at home.
3. His nickname is “Ash” or “The King”.
4. Ashton went to Melbourne’s De La Salle College where he graduated in 2011. He scored 90.55 in the ATAR, putting him among the school’s top 5% of scholars.
5. His favourite past-time is fishing. He also enjoys hip-hop music.
6. He barracks for St Kilda in the AFL.
7. Two weeks ago he was playing for Henley in the Home Counties Premier Cricket League (Division One). He caught coach Darren Lehmann’s eye after taking four wickets against Mymms.
8. His favourite cricketers are Shane Warne and Sachin Tendulkar.
9. His top cricketing moment was watching Steve Waugh hit a four off the last ball of the day to score a hundred in an Ashes Test in Sydney a decade ago.
10. At school, not only was he a fine cricketer, he was a handy baseball player as well.
11. His batting skills impressed former Aussie opener Justin Langer, who said in February: “I haven’t seen anyone bat like it for a very long time.
“A lot of young players are very mechanical (but) he’s the opposite, he’s at the other end of the spectrum.”
Ashton and his brothers hone their skills on
the driveway of their Melbourne home in 2010. Ashton is bowling, Will
batting, with Wesley keeping. Picture: Hilton Stone
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