With a tear in his eye and his parents in the crowd, Ashton Agar became Australia’s surprise 434th Test cricketer.

When seemingly no one else on the planet gave the skinny 19-year-old, who was not even part of Australia’s Ashes touring squad, a hope of playing the opening Test at Trent Bridge his parents and two younger brothers landed in England.

They were in a select group who knew the story of one of the biggest bolters in Ashes history.

Ashton was told on Monday by new coach Darren Lehmann and selector on tour Rod Marsh of his selection, and immediately got on the phone to his mum.

“So we arranged flights on Tuesday morning and were on a flight on Tuesday afternoon,” mum Sonia explained of the whirlwind trip.

“(We) got (to Nottingham) at 5.30 this morning. So it was pretty big.”

The significance of not only his parents but also brothers William (17) and Wesley (16) being in attendance was not lost on him – Ashton credits the two, who are themselves very well-rated cricketers, as highly as anyone for his rapid rise to the top.

It makes sense when he tells you that none of his coaches gave him much technical advice.

And if their backyard cricket games are anything to base Test futures on, he expects to see more of the Agar clan on the world stage in the coming years.

The rules were simple. You bowled at express pace on a six metre wicket, and runs could only be scored in boundaries – the neighbour’s yard was a six, while hitting the street gutter across the road.

“(They’ve had a) massive impact,” Ashton said after the first day’s play.

“I put a lot of my cricket development down to playing with them in the front yard at home.

“They’re both good cricketers, at 16 and 17. We’ve had fierce battles in the front yard.

“Bowling fast on the short pitch, if you couldn’t bowl you wouldn’t get a bat and if you couldn’t bat you wouldn’t bat for long.

“We had to try and be a good as we can, and they’re great.”

Agar, who left his Melbourne home last year in order to chase first class cricket in Western Australia, is as level-headed as any 19-year-old on the planet.

But even he was overcome by the occasion when presented with his baggy green by fast bowling great Glenn McGrath before the start of play as his parents tearfully watched on.

“To be honest, yeah there was (a tear in the eye). There definitely was,” he added.

“It was a dream come true. It’s everything I’ve wanted from a cricketing point of view.”

And while his first ball – a low full toss which was dispatched to the boundary by Jonathan Trott – didn’t quite carry the mystique or significance of Shane Warne’s first Ashes delivery on English soil and figures of 0-24 are rarely the stuff of legend, there was more than enough to like.

Agar’s state coach Justin Langer is a big fan.

“Besides his infectious personality and energy for the game, Ashton’s strength comes in his natural and free style of play.

“Whether with the bat or ball his movements are reminiscent of the great athletes.

“Many young players today look very tense and mechanical in their movements.

“They often look ‘over-coached’ and are unable to move with freedom, power and speed.

“When you observe the great athletes there are few who look like this. While Ashton has much to learn … his free movements give him the chance to fulfil his undoubted promise.”

Melbourne-born with Sri Lankan heritage, Agar’s first club was Richmond Cricket Club where he made his first grade debut at 15.

It was no easy ride, however; he was dropped to club’s second XI for four games in 2011-12.

He was selected for the  under-19s World Cup in Queensland in mid-2012.

Western Australia’s recruiters marked his name in their book and Agar headed west to be fast-tracked into first class cricket, rather than sit behind Victoria’s long line of spinners.

He debuted for WA in a match against NSW taking 3-103 from 37.3 overs.

Selectors took note of his variation and natural ability and shortly after he was heading to India as a developmental member of the touring squad.

“I got a lot out of it, I definitely learned a lot, especially off their spinners, you have to be very patient and bowl a lot of good balls to get wickets,” Agar said at the time.

“All the same principles apply wherever you bowl. If you’re very accurate and you put enough balls in the right areas you should get wickets.”

Back in Australia for the summer of 2012-13 Agar has a key hand in Western Australia’s Sheffield Shield victories in Brisbane and Adelaide.

Agar was named in the side for an Australia A tour of England that preceded the Ashes.

Australia A’s batting coach was Darren Lehmann.

The 19-year-old has so far impressed Langer, Lehmann and head selector John Inverarity.

What happens now is in his own hands.