Tasmanian all-rounder Beau Webster has got his maiden call-up to the Australian Test squad as he’s been added to the squad for the 2nd BGT Test against India amid concerns about Mitchell Marsh’s fitness.
The 2nd BGT Test will be played in Adelaide from December 6th. This is a day-night Test match that will be played with a pink ball. The last time these two teams squared off in a day-night encounter was also in Adelaide in 2020 when India registered their lowest-ever Test match score of 36 but bounced back to win the series 2-1.
Now, Australia are under the pump as they have suffered an embarrassing loss in the first BGT 2024-25 Test at the Optus Stadium in Perth by 295 runs, which was despite bowling India out for 150 runs in the first innings of the match.
Marsh, who was the only all-rounder in Australia’s XI in Perth amid the absence of the injured Cameron Green, bowled 17 overs in the match, which is the most he’s bowled in a game in the last three years.
While on Tuesday Australia coach Andrew McDonald said they will retain the same 13-member squad from Perth for the Adelaide Test, skipper Pat Cummins expressed concerns over Marsh’s fitness. It has been reported that Marsh dealt with soreness after his efforts in Perth. Hence, Australia have included Beau Webster in their squad for the Adelaide Test.
Should Marsh be unfit for the 2nd BGT Test, Webster is expected to slot in the all-rounder’s role. It’s unlikely that Australia will pick a specialist batsman in Josh Inglis to replace Marsh.
Beau Webster has been in great form in first-class cricket.
Webster has been one of the standout performers in the last couple of years in first-class cricket, averaging 53.23 with the bat and 31.71 with the ball.
Last season, Beau Webster grabbed headlines by becoming only the second player in the Sheffield Shield’s history, after West Indian great Sir Garry Sobers, to amass over 900 runs and claim 30 wickets in a season. This season, he’s scored 448 runs at an average of 56 and taken 16 wickets.
In his last match for Tasmania and NSW, he recorded scores of 61 and 49 and snared five wickets in the match. Before that, he featured in two four-day matches for Australia A against India A. There he scored 145 runs in four innings while remaining unbeaten in both the successful run chases and picked up 7 wickets, helping Australia A win both games. He is also known to be an excellent slip catcher.
Webster said after the announcement,
“Any time you’re playing ‘A’ cricket, it’s the one step below Test level, so it does hold you in good stead. To get the call from ‘Bails’ (men’s chief selector George Bailey) at the end of the NSW game was a really proud moment, and I can’t wait to get stuck in.”
Australia squad for 2nd BGT Test:
Pat Cummins (c), Scott Boland, Alex Carey (wk), Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Mitch Marsh, Nathan McSweeney, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Beau Webster
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