Agar`s feet `firmly planted on ground` despite becoming Ashes `hot property`

Sydney: Australian Ashes debutant Ashton Agar reportedly has his feet planted firmly on the ground and is calm and focused on his performance despite becoming hot property with his history-making 98 in the first Ashes Test at Trent Bridge.

Agar, hailed as the new wonder boy of Australian cricket, became a classic sensation overnight although it added that the West Australian would have to return to simply being a cricketer once the intense hype died down. Aware that the selectors are not going to be seduced by his fairytale plot and attractive demeanour like his adoring fans, Agar, who has displayed equanimity and foresight beyond his years, said that he feels the same as he did at the start, although he added that he is probably more comfortable now with Test cricket. According to Agar, he is trying his best not to pay attention to all the media hype surrounding his Ashes debut, adding that even though the hype could have gone to his head, he was lucky that his family, Western Australia coach Justin Langer, national coach Darren Lehmann and his teammates were around to keep him grounded. Agar further said that a similar situation happened to him while he debuted for Western Australia, although on a smaller scale, adding that his family has always encouraged to stay modest, which he will continue to do so. However, the report said that the wheel seemed to have turned as the Australians prepare for Thursday`s third Test at Old Trafford, with suggestions that Agar may have lose his place to the more seasoned off-spinner Nathan Lyon over a poor spin bowling form as he is in the team for that reason and not to make hundreds. But Agar appeared unconcerned, saying that even though he was not as consistent as he would have liked to be at Lord`s, it has not worried him, adding that he expected such things to happen in Test cricket and is ready for that. ANI