New Delhi: Australia on Thursday dropped their squad for the second Test against India scheduled in Adelaide and starting on December 6. While India had announced their squad for the complete Border-Gavaskar Trophy, Australia earlier opted to name the squad only for the opening Test. They have increased a member in their 13-member squad for the second Test, retaining all of the 13 players and adding uncapped allrounder Beau Webster into the squad as well.
Webster comes in as a cover for Mitchell Marsh who is currently going through fitness concerns. The Tasmanian player was handed his maiden international call-up despite head coach Andrew McDonald making claims that the hosts would go ahead with the same 13-man squad for the day-night pink ball match at the Adelaide Oval. 33-year-old Marsh pulled up sore after Australia’s 295-run thrashing in Perth as he sent down 17 overs during the game, the most he has bowled in a Test in three years.
It remains possible that Marsh retains his place in the playing XI for the Adelaide Test but might play as a pure batter. This would also mean that the workload would increase for frontline seamers who will be up and running again just four days after the second Test as the third Test begins on December 14 in Brisbane.
JUST IN: A fresh face confirmed for the Aussie Test squad heading to Adelaide! #AUSvIND
Details: https://t.co/436boXikq6 pic.twitter.com/pcXntNLsVH
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) November 28, 2024
Who is Beau Webster?
Webster will be turning 31 just three days later (on December 1) and it is indeed a surprise that it took him this long to break into the international stage. Although there have been some late bloomers in international cricket before, Webster has finally received his maiden international call-up as well. The 200 cm tall allrounder plays for Tasmania in the domestic circuit as a batting allrounder.
Webster’s call-up is a reward for his thrilling performances in first-class cricket over the last two seasons. Last year, he bagged a huge record, becoming only the second player after Sir Garfield Sobers in Sheffield Shield history to score more than 900 runs and take 30 wickets in a season. In the ongoing season, he has already hit 448 runs at an average of 56 along with 16 wickets. These include his knocks of 61* and 46* and figures of 3/19 and 3/49 against India A this month.
“To get a few runs and wickets (for Australia A) was pleasing against a strong Indian side. Any time you’re playing ‘A’ cricket, it’s one step below Test level, so it does hold you in good stead. To get the call from ‘Bails’ (selector George Bailey) at the end of the NSW game was a really proud moment and I can’t wait to get stuck in,” Webster said as quoted by Cricbuzz.
“There’s a tight turnaround between the Adelaide and Gabba Test so I think (I’m there) just to have some cover there for that middle-order role, whichever way they go,” he added.
Australia squad for second Test vs India:
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.
Australia announced their squad for the second Test against India, handing maiden international call-up to Beau Webster who has been added as a cover for injured Mitchell Marsh. Cricket Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
