Agar named to make ODI debut

Two years after stunning the world in his maiden Ashes Test, Ashton Agar returns to international cricket today in his ODI debut against England at Old Trafford.

Agar becomes Australia's 208th one-day international player, the second debutant this tour after Queensland's Joe Burns won his first 50-over cap against Ireland in Belfast.

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The 21-year-old comes in to the side for the injured Shane Watson after the allrounder was ruled out of the series with a strained calf muscle.

Agar was the star spinner in Australia A's one-day tri-series in India last month, taking 12 wickets in four matches at a superb average of 12, including 5-39 against India A.

The left-arm orthodox tweaker was the fourth-highest wicket-taker in the Sheffield Shield last summer with 31 scalps in nine matches and chipped in with 270 runs and two half-centuries.

While he's been selected as Australia's premier spinner, it was with the bat on his Test debut where Agar's name was forever etched into Ashes folklore.

The languid left-hander made a brilliant 98 batting at No.11 on Test debut, combining with Phillip Hughes for the highest 10th wicket partnership at the time.

Captain Steve Smith has likened Agar's aggressive, carefree batting technique to that of an Australian legend.

"He has bowled really well in India, I've heard, and in the back end of the Shield season he bowled really well," Smith said.

"I certainly think there's a lot of potential there with the bat. He's got a pretty unique style.

"He has got quite a high grip on the bat, quite similar to Adam Gilchrist, and he has got a lot of talent."

Australia: Finch, Burns, Smith (c), Bailey, Maxwell, Wade, M Marsh, Agar, Starc, Cummins, Pattinson.

England: Roy, Hales, Taylor, Morgan (c), Stokes, Bairstow, Moeen Ali, Rashid, Woakes, Plunkett, Finn.