Australia added uncapped all-rounder Beau Webster to the squad for the second Test against India as cover for Mitchell Marsh, whose fitness remains a concern. Marsh was left in “pain” after the Australians scored 295 runs in the series opener in Perth earlier this week. Webster, who like Marsh is also a right-arm all-rounder, has been a standout player in the Sheffield Shield over the past two years. The 30-year-old has 1,788 runs to his name, including five hundreds and nine fifties.
Earlier this week, he starred in Tasmania’s Sheffield Shield match against New South Wales, scoring 61 and 49, as well as taking five wickets.
“It was nice to get some runs and wickets (for Australia A) against a strong Indian team,” Webster was quoted as saying by Cricket.com.au ahead of Thursday’s announcement.
“Every time you play A cricket, it’s one step below Test level, so it really helps you. To get the call from ‘Bales’ (men’s selection chairman George Bailey) at the end of the NSW game was a really proud moment for me and I can’t wait to get stuck into it.
“It’s a busy shift between Adelaide and the Gabba Test, so I think (I’m here) just to have some cover for that middle-order role, whichever way they go,” he added.
In addition to his explosive batting, Webster has added bowling to his abilities, a skill he added to his repertoire just four years ago.
He will join the squad in Adelaide next week, having been named Sheffield Shield Player of the Year last summer and continuing that form this season.
Despite a disappointing performance in the first series, coach Andrew Macdonald said there will be no changes to the home side’s line-up for the pink-ball Test in Adelaide starting December 6.
Meanwhile, Jack Nisbett has been brought in to replace Jem Ryan, who suffered a foot injury at the weekend, in the Premier squad to take on India in Canberra this weekend.
Australia’s squad for the second 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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