Ashton Agar - Proud to be of Sri Lankan heritage

Ashton Agar is just eighteen years 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 into Deakin University to do a degree in Law.