Australia will give all-rounder Beau Webster his Test debut for the fifth Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Sydney. Webster will replace Mitchell Marsh in the Playing XI, who looked awful in the first four Tests.
Beau Webster’s debut was confirmed by Australian captain Pat Cummins speaking to the media ahead of the fifth Test at the SCG. Cummins also provided a fresh update on quick Mitchell Starc, who had some injury problems in the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne.
Beau Webster is set to make his Test debut
Beau Webster has been in the Australian set-up for a long time and was eagerly awaiting the opportunity. Has been in form with both bat and ball in recent Sheffield Shield seasons. Beau Webster was the top run-getter in the final season with 938 runs at an average of 58.62.
He also took 30 wickets at an average of 29.30. Webster played four first-class matches this season and scored 303 runs at an average of 50.50. He hit a half century. He also took 9 wickets at an average of 37.88.
Beau Webster scored an unbeaten fifty for Australia A in the pre-Border-Gavaskar Trophy match against India A. This knock came in the first four-day match in Mackay and he also took 2 three-wicket hauls in the second match played in Melbourne.
Mitchell Marsh dropped after a poor comeback
Mitchell Marsh was all set to fall after his poor form with the bat in the ongoing series in which he scored just 73 runs at an average of 10.42. Pat Cummins revealed the reason for his sacking and acknowledged Marsh’s disappointing returns with the bat.
“Mitchy (Mitchell Marsh) obviously hasn’t been getting the runs or maybe the wickets that he would have liked this series. So we felt it was time to freshen up and Beau was in the squad. He was outstanding,” Cummins told reporters.
“So it’s a shame for Mitchy because we know how much he’s brought to the team, but we feel now is a good week for Beau (Webster) to get a chance,” he said.
Cummins also praised Beau Webster for his excellent results in first-class cricket. He argued that it was not difficult to tell Mitchell Marsh that he was excluded because he was already aware of his poor returns.
“He totally understood. I think his words, yeah, he definitely wasn’t blindsided. He knows he didn’t score the runs he wanted or take the wicket. It makes you vulnerable. He was really excited for Beau. The first thing he said was that Beau I can’t wait to see him go out there and crack it,” Cummins said.
Mitchell Starc’s fitness update
At the same press conference, Pat Cummins also confirmed that Mitchell Starc is fit to play in Sydney after an injury scare in the fourth Test. Starc suffered a rib/back problem in India’s first innings of the match.
He had to leave the field at half time but returned to bat the next day. Starc played the second innings without a hitch, boosting his chances of going into the New Year’s Test.
With Mitchell Starc fully fit for the Test match at home, Australia have a strong bowling attack that will aim to confirm their place in the WTC final and reclaim the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
Australia play the 11th for the fifth Test against India
Sam Konstas, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Steven Smith, Travis Head, Beau Webster, Alex Carey (wk), Pat Cummins (C), Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Scott Boland
