Australian cricketer Ashton Agar bowled his finest ever maiden in late Autumn, marrying his long-time sweetheart, Madeleine. Here, the left arm legend fills us in on his romantic run-up to the big day.

In late Autumn, Australian cricketer Ashton Agar bowled his finest ever maiden, marrying his long-time sweetheart, Madeleine, in Perth. Here, the left-arm legend fills us in on his romantic run-up to the big day, including how he met ‘Mad’ and his successful appeal on Cottesloe beach.

M.J. Bale: Ashton, hello! Congratulations on your wedding. Can you tell us how you met your wife?

Ashton Agar: Madeleine and I met when we were 18 at a nightclub in Perth called club ‘Bayview’, which is quite funny as it was a popular spot in Claremont for young people, and it was my first year in Perth.

MJB: Was it love at first sight?

AA:  It had to be close to love at first sight because we just got along so well, so quickly!

MJB: What was it about Madeleine that made you fall for her?

AA: Madeleine is so smart. She can hold her own in any situation, and she makes me laugh. As we started to get to know each other, we quickly realised that we both cared deeply about family and wanted the same things out of life; all these things made me fall for her. Of course, she’s very beautiful, too!

MJB: Tell us about the proposal then. Where was it? How did it happen? Was it a surprise?

AA: I proposed to Mad at a little spot along Cottesloe beach. We always go for walks along Cottesloe and stop to watch the surfers there sometimes. It was a complete surprise! She had just run a half marathon in the morning, and I had booked in a nice lunch at a restaurant called Il Lido for afterwards, because I knew she’d be really hungry. I suggested a little stroll to watch the surfers before lunch and when we stopped, I got down on one knee and proposed. It all went really well.

MJB: How romantic! So, the wedding day: where did you get married, and what was the inspiration behind your venue?

AA: We got married in the chapel at Santa Maria College in Perth. Madi went to school there and her parents also got married there, so it was special for her. We then had our reception at Fraser’s restaurant in Kings Park, Perth. The state reception centre there is an amazing space with a panoramic view of the Swan River and Perth city. Because we were getting married in May, we liked the idea of having the wedding indoors rather than in a marquee and we felt that this was the best possible space for it. Turns out it was a good decision because it was pouring with rain, but that only added to the romance of the day.

MJB: Beautiful Can you talk to us a bit about your choice to don M.J. Bale for the wedding? Were you chuffed with the final outcome?

AA: I have always loved M.J. Bale suits. They are timeless and classic. This is the look I wanted to achieve for my groomsmen and myself, so M.J. Bale was the obvious choice. It was such a great experience at the M.J. Bale Claremont store where my groomsmen and I went for our fittings. Everyone was so friendly and made us feel really special. I was so happy with the outcome; a classic black tux is a look that will never age. The photos are incredible!

MJB: Have you had a honeymoon yet, or any plans for one?

AA: As a professional cricketer, there isn’t a lot of time for a big honeymoon. Two days after our wedding, we headed down the coast to a beautiful place called Yallingup, which is about three hours south of Perth. We love red wine, nice food and the beach, so for us Yallingup is heaven,as it’s right next to the great Margaret River wine region. We stayed in a house down there for a week and enjoyed lots of wine, laughs and open fires.

MJB: Lastly, does life feel any different for you and your wide now that you're married, or is it business as usual?

AA: Life has been great since we got married. Because of cricket, there has been lots of distance,but that seems to strengthen our bond. It’s just nice to know that you have a best friend who is with you for the rest of your life!