Beau Webster added to Australia’s side for Adelaide test as concerns emerge over the workload of Mitchell Marsh.
Beau Webster has been added to Australia’s Test squad for Adelaide amid concerns over the fitness of Mitchell Marsh.
Given the short turnaround, Webster is expected to stay with the group for the subsequent match in Brisbane, even though he was just officially added for the second Test.
One of the most impressive domestic players of the past two seasons. Webster transformed from an offspinner into a quick medium pacer, though he can still send down the former if necessary. He recently made an impression for Australia A against India A and would feel comfortable playing any position.
“I feel like I have done it all over the past 10 years. At the top or in the middle,” he said. “But I dare say the role will be somewhere between that five or seven role with the bat and bowl some overs as well [if I do debut]. Probably seam-up, we’ve got the spin department covered pretty convincingly with Nathan and a few other guys.”
In addition to taking five wickets, including two in an over, to secure victory with time remaining. He scored 61 and 49 against New South Wales in the most recent set of Sheffield Shield fixtures. In addition, he is among Australia’s top slip catchers. Webster confirmed that George Bailey, the chair of the selectors, called him soon after he had contributed to the victory.
He amassed 145 runs in four innings during the two four-day matches against India A in Mackay and Melbourne. He was undefeated in both of the victorious run chases and took seven wickets at 19.57, six of which came at the MCG.
“He’s a special player at the moment,” Tasmania captain Jordan Silk said after the game against NSW. “Any time I feel like we’re in trouble. I feel like I can throw him the ball and he just seems to be able to create something. Or any time we’re in similar trouble with the bat then he’s able to dig us out of it.
“He’s basically playing as our third seamer and top-six batter which is a pretty good luxury to have in our side,” Silk said. “He’d probably say it was one of the best career moves of all-time to give up his dirty offies and go to seam bowling because it’s now looking like it could open many more doors for him.
“I think he’s gained the respect of the competition with those seamers. That probably took maybe a year or two for people to really see that.”