New Delhi: All-rounder Beau Webster is ready to make his Test debut and Australia should field him in the second Test in Adelaide as there are concerns of over the fitness of Mitchell Marsh, Ian Healy said on Thursday.
Australia were thrashed by 295 runs in the first Test at Perth for their heaviest defeat against India on home soil. It was also the first time they lost in an opening match of a series since 2018 as they look to go level in the five-match series from December 6.
Webster was added to the squad on Thursday as cover for Marsh after first-choice all-rounder is trying to shake off an ankle injury that may curtail his bowling workload at Adelaide after pulling up sore after the Perth defeat.
Former Australian keeper-batter Healy doesn’t want Webster to cool his heels on the sidelines after being added to the squad.
‘Get him in’
“I like that, but I don’t reckon standby, get him in. I don’t really like just adding him to the squad unless he’s going to play, drop the 12th man,” Healy told SEN Radio.
“You drop Boland out … and add Beau Webster. He’s through his injury phases. He’s massive, he’s 2m tall and he’s performed at every level – youth cricket, 2nd XI, Australia A and Shield level,” the 119 Test match veteran said.
“He’s an all-rounder, he’s consistent, bat good under pressure and it might be time. That could be the way that we fill in a batting position, Mitch Marsh moves up if he is injury-free and then an all-rounder comes in.
“If Marsh moves up, he doesn’t stay an all-rounder because he’s injury prone, that might be the decision in the end,” he added.
If Marsh is deemed unfit to bowl, it could open the doors for Webster, who has been the stand out performer in Australia’s premier domestic competition over the past two years, scoring 303 runs in the Sheffield Shield this year at an average of 50.50 while also claiming nine wickets.
Beau Webster has been added to the Australian squad as cover for Mitchell Marsh ahead of the second Test in Adelaide from December 6 Cricket Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
