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          Webster bolsters Australia Test squad amid Marsh concerns

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          • Andrew McGlashan, Deputy editor, ESPNcricinfoNov 28, 2024, 04:07 AM
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              Deputy Editor Andrew arrived at ESPNcricinfo via Manchester and Cape Town, after finding the assistant editor at a weak moment as he watched England's batting collapse in the Newlands Test. Andrew began his cricket writing as a freelance covering Lancashire during 2004 when they were relegated in the County Championship. In fact, they were top of the table when he began reporting on them but things went dramatically downhill. He likes to let people know that he is a supporter of county cricket, a fact his colleagues will testify to and bemoan in equal quantities.

          Tasmania allrounder Beau Webster has been added to Australia's Test squad for Adelaide amid concerns over the fitness of Mitchell Marsh.

          Webster, who turned himself from an offspinner into a brisk medium pacer although can still send down the former if needed, has been one of the standout domestic performers over the last couple of seasons and recently impressed for Australia A against India A.

          In the most recent round of Sheffield Shield matches he scored 61 and 49 against New South Wales alongside claiming five wickets, including two in an over to seal victory with time running out. He is also one of the best slip catchers in Australia.

          In the two four-day games against India A in Mackay and Melbourne he made 145 runs in four innings - including being unbeaten in both the successful run chases - and claimed seven wickets at 19.57, six of which came at the MCG.

          Over the last two years in all first-class cricket, which includes a handful of games for Gloucestershire, Webster has averaged 53.23 with the bat and 31.71 with the ball.

          "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, and that probably took maybe a year or two for people to really see that."

          In the aftermath of Australia's first-Test thrashing in Perth, coach Andrew McDonald confirmed the same 13 players would be involved in the Adelaide but Pat Cummins had earlier confirmed some concerns over Marsh after he'd sent down 17 overs in the game - the most he had sent down in three years.

          Josh Inglis remains the spare batter in the squad but Webster could vault into contention for a Test debut ahead of him in order to provide an option to balance the bowling workload if Marsh was unavailable. Cummins and McDonald have also consistently said that Marsh is selected because he is one of the best six batters in Australia but the extra overs could become increasingly important as the series goes on.

          Marsh bowled well in the first innings at Optus Stadium to take 2 for 12. In his favour is the longer gap between the first and second Tests with the Adelaide game not beginning until December 6.