Agar's 'loose' style reminiscent of 'Calypso cricket' Windies greats, says Langer

Former Australian Test player Justin Langer has praised Ashes debutant Ashton Agar, saying that Agar reminded him of the celebrated 'Calypso cricket' generation of the West Indies players.

Langer, who coaches Agar in Western Australia (WA), has said that the teenager's sensational debut Ashes and Test score of 98 was done in a loose, easy style reminiscent of the 1970s batting greats Clive Lloyd and Roy Fredericks, the Sydney Morning Herald reports.

Stating that Agar's arms are like a hose in a swimming pool, Langer further said that every great cricket star played in the same rangy way Agar did, adding that it is rare to see youngsters playing in that way in today's professional era as they generally tend to be more coached and mechanical.

According to Langer, Agar was able to play through the leg side, through the offside, the hook shots, along the ground and hit back over the top because of his loose style.

Meanwhile, Langer dismissed suggestions that Agar will come under more pressure after an impressive start to his test career, saying that he is aware that he is good enough to keep performing at this level, even though it is tough for a youngster coming into international cricket.

Langer further said that Agar is the most natural young cricketer that he has seen in a long time, adding that as long as he kept his happy and relaxed attitude and maintained his loose style, he has got a great future ahead of him.

Although Langer said that he could see Agar batting as high as number five later in his Test career, although the youngster is still focusing primarily on his bowling, he, however, said that he would not be surprised to see Agar stay at 11 for now given the current wealth of batting talent among Australia's bowlers.

Langer also said that Agar's WA teammates are not disappointed to him fall just two runs short of a debut century, adding that the fact that Agar made 98 and broke records was a real spring in the steps of the players at the side.