Photo Credit: Perth Scorchers
Influential Perth Scorchers players Ashton Agar and Aaron Hardie will don the orange for at least a few more years, after signing contract extensions with the Club.Australia white-ball regular Agar put pen to paper on a new three-year deal, while rising allrounder Hardie has been secured for another two years.
Agar, who grew up in Victoria, is thrilled to strengthen ties with the state he now calls home.
“I’ve loved my time at the Scorchers and they’ve looked after me really well over the past 10 years,” Agar said.
“I was out of contract and it was time to make a decision on what my future looked like. I’m really happy to be staying at home with my family and friends, and enjoying another few Perth summers.”
The 28-year-old has compiled an outstanding 2021-22 KFC Big Bash League campaign, snaring 17 wickets at 21.71 and conceding just 6.83 runs per over.
With the blade, Agar has hammered 118 runs at 23.60 (strike rate 147.50) and made several telling contributions in the lower-middle-order.
Of equal note is the allrounder’s leadership, stepping in to guide the Scorchers’ younger generation alongside skipper Ashton Turner.
“It’s been a lot of fun and an absolute privilege to take on the role as a bit more of a senior player and leader in this group,” Agar said.
“I’ve been lucky enough to have a lot of experience playing international cricket and a lot of Big Bash and T20 cricket around the world. We have a lot of good young players in our squad and I look forward to helping them as much as I can, not that they need too much help at the moment.”
Hardie, meanwhile, is excited by the prospect of realising more success with Perth in the coming years.
“I’m absolutely stoked to re-sign,” the 23-year-old said.
“It’s been a great team to be part of, the last two years. Obviously we’ve had lots of success – back-to-back finals and hopefully winning (today) – so I’m super excited to be part of the Scorchers for another two years.”
Utilised more as a bowling allrounder in previous BBL competitions, Hardie’s batting has risen to the fore this season.
Hardie earned Player of the Match honours for the match-defining 45 he compiled against Sydney Sixers at Metricon Stadium last month, and has regularly showcased his capacity to score quick runs at the death.
“It’s definitely been nice to play a bigger role this year with the bat,” Hardie said.
“I’ve had a few opportunities batting near the top of the order, around No.5, and I’m hoping to do that a bit more in the coming years. I’d also like to bowl a bit more when my elbow fully recovers (from surgery last off-season), while playing that role with the bat.”
Perth Scorchers and Sydney Sixers will both target a record-breaking fourth BBL Championship when they clash at Marvel Stadium for the BBL|11 final tonight.
The Scorchers and Sixers have met in four previous title-deciders (2011-12, 2014-15, 2016-17, 2020-21), claiming two wins apiece.
MATCH DETAILS:
KFC Big Bash League Final
Perth Scorchers v Sydney Sixers
Friday 28 January, 4:40pm WST
Marvel Stadium, Melbourne
LIVE: Seven, Foxtel, Kayo, SEN 1116
Name of Author: Perth Scorchers
The Perth Scorchers are an Australian men’s Twenty20 cricket team competing in the Big Bash League. Based in Perth, Western Australia, they wear an orange uniform and play their home games at Perth Stadium.
