BBL: Dislocated finger rules out Ashton Agar, surgery required

The spin-bowling allrounder Ashton Agar will play no further role in the ongoing eighth season of the KFC Big Bash League after dislocating a finger, another setback which will require surgery and throws in doubt his availability for the 2019 ICC Cricket World Cup.

Agar, capped in 15 T20Is, nine ODIs and four Tests for Australia, fractured his right index finger during training with Perch Scorchers on Thursday and is set to undergo surgery. The duration of recuperation and rehabilitation is not known. (ALSO READ: Sydney Thunder coach Shane Bond fumes after Gabba floodlight failure)

This is the second time in 16 months that Agar has dislocated a finger, the previous instance being in 2017 during Australia's tour of India.

"Ash Agar unfortunately suffered a fracture dislocation to his right index finger whilst fielding at training yesterday," Scorchers sports medicine manager Nick Jones said.. "Ash sustained an intra-articular fracture that will require surgical repair. We expect that Ash will undergo surgery in the coming days, and as a result will be unavailable for the remainder of the BBL."

Agar had yesterday been passed fit for the Scorchers' game against Hobart Hurricanes today. He has now been replaced by Will Bosisto.

Australia have a limited-overs tour of India in February, followed by five ODIs versus Pakistan in the UAE. They get their World Cup defence underway on June 1 in England. Agar, 25, was part of Australia's Test and T20I squads that toured the UAE in October 2018, as well as the limited-overs squads for home series with South Africa and India.