Wes Agar

{{short description|Australian cricketer}} {{Use dmy dates|date=July 2021}} {{Use Australian English|date=October 2016}} {{Infobox cricketer | name = Wes Agar | fullname = Wesley Austin Agar | image = 260329 D4 Wes Agar 01.jpg | caption = Agar in March 2026 | country = Australia | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1997|2|5|df=yes}} | birth_place = [[Malvern, Victoria|Malvern]], [[Victoria (Australia)|Victoria]], Australia | family = [[Ashton Agar]] (brother) | heightcm = 191 | batting = Right-handed | bowling = Right-arm [[Fast bowling|fast]] | role = [[Bowling (cricket)|Bowler]]

| club1 = [[South Australia cricket team|South Australia]] | year1 = 2016/17 | club2 = [[Adelaide Strikers]] | year2 = {{nowrap|2016/17–2023/24}} | clubnumber2 = 9 | club3 = [[Victoria cricket team|Victoria]] | year3 = 2018/19 | club4 = South Australia | year4 = {{nowrap|2019/20–present}} | clubnumber4 = 9 | club5 = [[Kent County Cricket Club|Kent]] | year5 = 2023–2025 | clubnumber5 = 8 | club6 = [[Sydney Thunder]] | year6 = 2024/25 | clubnumber6 = 8

| columns = 4

| source = http://www.espncricinfo.com/australia/content/player/959833.html Cricinfo | date = 21 October | year = 2025 }}

'''Wesley Austin Agar''' (born 5 February 1997) is an Australian [[cricket]]er. He is a fast bowler who has played for [[Australia national under-19 cricket team|Australia's national youth team]], and has played [[first-class cricket|first-class]] and [[List A cricket]] for [[South Australia cricket team|South Australia]] and [[Twenty20]]s for the [[Sydney Thunder]]. He is the younger brother of fellow Australian international cricketer, [[Ashton Agar]]. He made his international debut for [[Australia national cricket team|Australia]], in one-day internationals, in July 2021.

Agar spent his childhood in Victoria but moved to South Australia to seek more opportunities. He represented the state at under-19 level and was named in Australia's national under-19 squad for the [[2016 Under-19 Cricket World Cup]] before Australia pulled out of the tournament. He had a rookie contract with South Australia and played his first matches at state level in the [[2016–17 Matador BBQs One-Day Cup]], after which he also signed with the Adelaide Strikers to play in the [[Big Bash League]]. In 2017, he was not given another contract with South Australia and returned to Victoria.

Agar returned to South Australia mid-2019 where he made his [[First-class cricket|first-class]] debut on 18 October 2019. He went on to be the tied highest wicket taker in the Sheffield Shield competition and continued to impress South Australians, winning the 2020 Bradman Young Cricketer of the Year award.

== Early and personal life == Agar was born into a cricketing family. His father, John, was a [[fast bowler]], and he was born the youngest of three brothers. His oldest brother, [[Ashton Agar|Ashton]], has played [[Test cricket]] for [[Australia national cricket team|Australia]] as a [[spin bowler]] and his other brother Will is a left-handed batsman who plays [[grade cricket]]. Agar chose to follow in his father's footsteps and became a fast bowler.<ref name="another">{{cite web|url=http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/sport/cricket/another-agar-is-making-his-mark-in-the-cricket-world-as-firebrand-wes-joins-sa-club-adelaide-university/news-story/7c5ccef3ad6a6efc975301bab810a377|title=Another Agar is making his mark in the cricket world as firebrand Wes joins SA club Adelaide University|last=Capel|first=Andrew|date=30 October 2015|access-date=5 January 2018|work=[[The Advertiser (Adelaide)|The Advertiser]]|publisher=[[News Corp Australia]]}}</ref>

Agar was diagnosed with [[obsessive–compulsive disorder]] (OCD).<ref>{{cite web |last=Menczel |first=Andrew |date=22 June 2020 |title=Wes Agar reveals his mental health battle |url=https://www.theroar.com.au/2020/06/23/wes-agar-reveals-his-mental-health-battle/ |website=Daisy Cutter |access-date=1 February 2026}}</ref>

== Career == === Early career === Agar played [[Victorian Premier Cricket]] for the [[Monash Tigers]], also known as the Richmond Cricket Club, making his first XI debut for the club at the age of sixteen.<ref name="another" /> Double stress fractures in his back interrupted his 2014–15 season,<ref name="another" /> but he was still able to win a premiership with the Tigers' second XI.<ref name="returns">{{cite web|url=https://www.heraldsun.com.au/leader/east/sport/wes-agar-returns-to-melbourne-in-bid-to-win-cricket-contract-with-victoria/news-story/ac5857bb4082a1c6b1643ed26fa0577c?nk=c12855ad84e52edb48b553d4a7bcdebc-1515146915|title=Wes Agar returns to Melbourne in bid to win cricket contract with Victoria|last=Hustwaite|first=Megan|date=7 June 2017|access-date=5 January 2018|work=[[Herald Sun]]|publisher=News Corp Australia}}</ref> During this stage of his career, he did not have the pace in his bowling or the physical build to reach higher success.<ref name="cricbuzz">{{cite web|url=https://www.cricbuzz.com/profiles/11757/wes-agar|title=Wes Agar Profile - ICC Ranking, Age, Career Info & State|last=Sadanandan|first=Hariprasad|access-date=5 January 2018|work=[[CricBuzz|Cricbuzz.com]]}}</ref>

=== Move to South Australia (2015–2017) === Agar moved to [[South Australia]] in 2015 to seek out more opportunities. He joined [[Adelaide University Cricket Club|Adelaide University's grade cricket team]] for the 2015–16 season.<ref name="cricket">{{cite web|url=https://www.cricket.com.au/players/wes-agar/vehdHRNq9U29YQ7z9zWUcw|title=Wes Agar|access-date=5 January 2018|work=[[Cricket Australia|cricket.com.au]]}}</ref> He had only $500 to his name and had to work part-time on a dairy farm to earn enough money to stay in Adelaide.<ref name="moves">{{cite web|url=https://www.heraldsun.com.au/leader/east/sport/monash-tigers-premiership-player-wes-agar-moves-to-adelaide-and-wins-state-cricket-contract/news-story/39f439715038e440b8cf213163d718de?nk=c12855ad84e52edb48b553d4a7bcdebc-1515149992|title=Monash Tigers premiership player Wes Agar moves to Adelaide and wins state cricket contract|last=Hustwaite|first=Megan|date=21 April 2016|access-date=5 January 2018|work=Herald Sun|publisher=News Corp Australia}}</ref> Despite still being only a teenager, he rose to prominence, increasing his bowling speed to as high as 130 km/h. This made him the second fastest uncontracted bowler in South Australia at the time.<ref name="another" />

Agar was selected to play for South Australia in the under-19 national championships and took ten wickets at an [[Bowling average|average]] of 22.60, including an impressive 5/37 against Tasmania. His form through the tournament meant that in December 2015, he was named in [[2016 Under-19 Cricket World Cup squads|Australia's squad]] for the [[2016 Under-19 Cricket World Cup]].<ref name="Australia">{{cite web |url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/icc-under-19-world-cup-2016/content/story/953415.html |title=Wes Agar, Clinton Hinchliffe in Australia U-19 World Cup squad|date=19 December 2015 |access-date=19 December 2015 |work=[[ESPNcricinfo]]}}</ref> Australia later pulled out of the world cup,<ref name="cricket" /> but Agar had played three matches while in the squad in the [[United Arab Emirates]].<ref name="cricbuzz" /><ref>{{cite web|url=https://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/player/959833.html?class=21;template=results;type=allround|title=All-round records {{!}} Under-19s Youth One-Day Internationals {{!}} Cricinfo Statsguru|access-date=5 January 2018|work=ESPNcricinfo}}</ref>

Agar's form in the 2015–16 season brought him to the attention of both national and state selectors. During the 2016 winter, he was included in the 17-man [[National Performance Squad]] to train for two months at Australia's [[Australian Cricket Academy|Centre of Excellence]],<ref name="nps">{{cite web|url=https://www.foxsports.com.au/cricket/australia/national-performance-squad-wes-agar-among-countrys-brightest-cricketers/news-story/803b03b2567358d2b2b25c10b6687254|title=National Performance Squad: Wes Agar among country's brightest cricketers|last=Kuriype|first=Jacob|date=8 April 2016|access-date=5 January 2018|work=[[Fox Sports]]|publisher=News Corp Australia}}</ref> and he was also given a rookie contract with [[South Australia cricket team|South Australia's state team]].<ref name="returns" /> His first appearance for South Australia came in the [[2016–17 Matador BBQs One-Day Cup]], when he made his [[List A cricket|List A]] debut on 2 October 2016.<ref name="LA">{{Cite web|url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/1036443.html |title=Matador BBQs One-Day Cup, 2nd Match: Western Australia v South Australia at Perth, Oct 2, 2016 |access-date=2 October 2016 |work=ESPNcricinfo}}</ref> During the tournament, he took eight wickets in five matches, his consistent form earning him a contract with [[Big Bash League]] franchise the [[Adelaide Strikers]].<ref name="returns" /> He made his [[Twenty20]] debut for the Strikers in the [[2016–17 Big Bash League season]] on 10 January 2017.<ref name="T20">{{Cite web|url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/1023623.html |title=Big Bash League, 22nd Match: Melbourne Stars v Adelaide Strikers at Melbourne, Jan 10, 2017 |access-date=10 January 2017 |work=ESPNcricinfo}}</ref>

=== Return to Victoria (2017–2019) === At the end of the 2016–17 season, Agar did not sign another contract with South Australia, and instead decided to return to Victoria to try to win a contract with the [[Victoria cricket team|Bushrangers]].<ref name="returns" /> Despite this move, he remained with the Adelaide Strikers for [[2017–18 Big Bash League season|BBL{{!}}07]], but wasn't a regular member of the Strikers' team. He played his only match of the tournament against the [[Perth Scorchers]], who his brother Ashton was playing for. This was the first time they had played against each other in a cricket match. Wes bowled two balls to Ashton, who hit him for two runs.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bigbash.com.au/news/agar-brothers-ashton-wes-bbl-perth-scorchers-adelaide-strikers-backyard-cricket/2018-01-26|title=Agar brothers take backyard to big stage|last=Cameron|first=Louis|date=26 January 2018|access-date=9 February 2018|work=[[Big Bash League|bigbash.com.au]]}}</ref>

=== Return to South Australia (2019–present) === Agar returned to South Australia in mid-2019 and made his [[first-class cricket|first-class]] debut on 18 October 2019, for [[South Australia cricket team|South Australia]] in the [[2019–20 Sheffield Shield season]].<ref name="FC">{{cite web |url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/1196118.html |title=5th Match, Marsh Sheffield Shield at Brisbane, Oct 18-21 2019 |access-date=18 October 2019 |work=ESPN Cricinfo}}</ref> In consecutive List A matches for South Australia in late 2019, he took 5 for 69 against Queensland<ref>{{cite web |title=15th Match, The Marsh Cup at Brisbane, Oct 23 2019 |url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/8626/scorecard/1196106/queensland-vs-south-australia-15th-match-the-marsh-cup-2019-20 |website=Cricinfo |access-date=17 November 2019}}</ref> and 5 for 40 against Western Australia.<ref>{{cite web |title=18th Match, The Marsh Cup at Adelaide, Nov 17 2019 |url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/8626/game/1196109/south-australia-vs-western-australia-18th-match-the-marsh-cup-2019-20|website=Cricinfo |date=16 November 2019 |access-date=17 November 2019}}</ref> He continued to impress for South Australia throughout the Sheffield Shield, ending the season with 33 wickets in eight matches at 24.21, the most of anyone from South Australia and equal-second most in the competition. Agar also translated this form to the Big Bash League, taking 17 wickets in 12 matches for the Strikers.

Agar's impressive domestic season across all formats saw him named the [[Bradman Young Cricketer of the Year|2020 Bradman Young Cricketer Of The Year]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.adelaidestrikers.com.au/news/agars-rise-recognised-at-australian-cricket-awards/2020-02-11|title=Agar's rise recognised at Australian Cricket Awards|website=Adelaide Strikers|language=en|access-date=12 April 2020}}</ref> In June 2021, Agar was named in Australia's [[limited overs cricket|limited overs]] squad for their tours of [[Australian cricket team in the West Indies in 2021|the West Indies]] and [[Australian cricket team in Bangladesh in 2021|Bangladesh]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cricket.com.au/news/australia-squad-odi-t20-tour-windies-bangladesh-smith-injury-warner-cummins-maxwell-stoinis-opt-out/2021-06-16 |title=Seven stars withdraw from tours of Windies, Bangladesh |work=Cricket Australia |access-date=16 June 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web| url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/david-warner-and-pat-cummins-among-australia-players-to-opt-out-of-west-indies-and-bangladesh-tours-1266659 |title=Warner, Cummins and Maxwell among six to opt out of West Indies and Bangladesh tours |work=ESPN Cricinfo |access-date= 16 June 2021}}</ref> Agar made his [[One Day International]] (ODI) debut on 20 July 2021, for Australia against the [[West Indies cricket team|West Indies]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/engine/match/1263161.html |title=1st ODI (D/N), Bridgetown, Jul 20 2021, Australia tour of West Indies |work=ESPN Cricinfo |access-date=20 July 2021}}</ref> He scored 41 runs off 36 balls in his first match.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Windies overcome batting stumble to level series|url=https://www.cricket.com.au/news/match-report/australia-west-indies-second-odi-one-day-international-covid-watch-live-scorecard-video/2021-07-25|access-date=2021-07-27|website=cricket.com.au|language=en}}</ref>

In February 2024, Agar was called up to the [[Twenty20 International]] squad [[West Indian cricket team in Australia in 2023–24|against the West Indies]] as a replacement to [[Josh Hazlewood]], although he did not play.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Paynter |first1=Jack |title=Fraser-McGurk in line for T20I debut, Agar called up {{!}} cricket.com.au |url=https://www.cricket.com.au/news/3892734/jake-fraser-mcgurk-wes-agar-australia-t20i-call-up-west-indies-series-perth-stadium |website=www.cricket.com.au |access-date=18 February 2024 |language=en |date=12 February 2024}}</ref>

== Player profile == Agar is a right-handed batsman and a right-arm [[Fast bowling|fast bowler]].<ref name="Bio">{{Cite web|url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/content/player/959833.html |title=Wes Agar |access-date=2 October 2016 |work=ESPNcricinfo}}</ref> He has focused on bowling quickly, bowling at speeds of up to {{Convert|130|km/h|abbr=on}} when he was still a teenager.<ref name="another" /> By 2017, he was aiming to bowl consistently at {{Convert|140|km/h|abbr=on}}, a feat that most bowlers can't achieve.<ref name="returns" /> He is also a useful batsman,<ref name="another" /> and [[Troy Cooley]], the coach at the Centre of Excellence, has said that his older brother Ashton adopted his batting approach to improve his own batting.<ref name="nps" />

== References == {{reflist}}

== External links == {{Commons category}} * {{ESPNcricinfo|id=959833}} {{South Australia cricket team squad}} {{Sydney Thunder current squad}} {{Bradman Young Cricketer of the Year}} {{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Agar, Wes}} [[Category:1997 births]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:Australian cricketers]] [[Category:Australia One Day International cricketers]] [[Category:Adelaide Strikers cricketers]] [[Category:South Australia cricketers]] [[Category:Cricketers from Melbourne]] [[Category:Australian people of Sri Lankan descent]] [[Category:Sportspeople of Sri Lankan descent]] [[Category:People from Malvern, Victoria]] [[Category:Kent cricketers]] [[Category:Australian expatriate cricketers in England]] [[Category:Richmond cricketers]] [[Category:Sydney Thunder cricketers]] [[Category:21st-century Australian sportsmen]] [[Category:People with obsessive–compulsive disorder]]