As Australia prepare to announce their new-look Test squad to tour Bangladesh next month, left-arm spinner Ashton Agar could be the surprise inclusion who will work in tandem with No.1 tweaker Nathan Lyon.
Head coach Darren Lehmann confirmed Australia's squad to Bangladesh would be named when the national side arrives home next week, and Agar is one of three spinners in contention to be Lyon's deputy on the three-week tour, reports cricket.com.au on Wednesday.
After getting a stunning start to his Test career two years ago where he sparkled with a 98-run knock on debut batting at No.11 against England, Agar said he's spent his time thereafter with domestic side Western Australia developing his game and learning how he plays his cricket.
"Up until that game everything had been so natural and it'd all just happened but I wasn't aware of how it was happening," Agar was quoted as saying by cricket.com.au on Wednesday.
"So to go and play the last two seasons and actually learn my game while I was doing it really helped me because now if it goes off I know how to get it back. Whereas before it went off for a bit and it was a bit of a tough time for one season learning how to find that rhythm. It's just learning about the way I play the game."
Agar and fellow spinner Steven O'Keefe travelled to India in July for two four-day matches against India A in Chennai. Agar collected three wickets in his sole opportunity on the tour.
Agar said his recent experiences playing in spin bowler-friendly conditions would hold him in good stead should he be chosen.
"I've played on a few spinning wickets at the end of last season," Agar said.
"I learned how to bowl with rough, on turning wickets (with) different field settings. In India for the A series I learned how to bowl to some good players of spin. But I haven't been picked on that tour yet, so I just have to wait and see."
