Does Ashton Agar have a long Test career ahead?

Who am I? I am a tall left-arm spinner, made my debut in the first Test of the Ashes at Trent Bridge the year after my first-class debut, batted down the order in my first Test innings before being promoted, and was dropped after my first two Tests.

I also hold the last-wicket partnership record for Tests for my country.

Hang on, I hear you say. Ashton Agar hasn’t been ruled out of the third Test yet has he?

No, but Wilfred Rhodes, the legendary English cricketer was after he had played his first Test at Nottingham against Australia in 1899.

His career was a remarkable one – that Test debut was W.G. Grace’s last Test and 31 years later Rhodes played his final first-class match, bowling to Don Bradman.

When Jim Maxwell invoked Rhodes’ name in the Test match commentary during the 1st Test after Agar’s extraordinary innings, another former left arm English spinner, Phil Tufnell, merely grunted.

How could he not acknowledge one of the most remarkable cricketers ever who had so many similarities to the 19 year old Test debutant?

After his first Test as a 21-year-old, Rhodes played his last Test as a 52-year-old – a world record age for a Test cricketer that is unlikely to be passed.

He played 1110 first class matches during which he took 4204 wickets – again both world records.

Like Agar he batted as low as number 11 in his early Tests and put on 130 for the 10th wicket at Sydney in 1904 with ‘Tip’ Foster who scored a Test record 287.

Their stand was the highest last wicket for any Test for 70 years and is still the English record today.

Rhodes went on to bat in every position in the order in his 58 Test matches having most success as an opener with Jack Hobbs, with whom he put on 323 for the first wicket against Australia in 1912.

By the end of his career he had scored almost 40000 runs. He became the first Englishman to reach the double of 1000 runs and 100 wickets in Tests.

He reached this milestone in 16 first class seasons. Longevity carried through to his own life as he only died in 1973 aged 95.

So, Ashton take heart after your struggles at Lord’s. And take inspiration from the story of this incredible all rounder who started his career just like you in so many ways.