Pat Cummins, Australia’s captain, has confirmed that the series’s fifth Test against India at Sydney would see Tasmania’s all-rounder Beau Webster cap his international career for the final Test, since the Australian side cuts out-of-form Mitchell Marsh.
Considering Marsh’s inability to score either as a batsman or a bowler and decreased injury concerns, the 31-year-old all-rounder replaces the 93 first-class games under his belt. He scored 5297 runs at an average of 37.83 with 12 hundreds and 24 fifties with the bat and 148 wickets, making him an ideal middle-order replacement.
“‘Mitchy’ obviously hasn’t quite got the runs, and perhaps wickets this series,” Cummins told reporters at the media conference Thursday. So we felt like it was time for a freshen up and Beau’s been great. It’s a shame for Mitchy because we know how much he brings to the team, but feel like now it’s a good week for Beau to get a chance,” Cummins was quoted by cricket.com.au as saying.
Cummins expressed his excitement at seeing Webster debut and also commented on how big it is in Australia when a batter is dropped from the side.
“Excited for Beau; first thing he (Marsh) said was ‘I can’t wait to see Beau go out there and give it a crack,'” Cummins said.
Particularly here in Australia, I think when a batter misses out or gets dropped, it’s always seen as a big deal. But the way that (Australia coach Andrew McDonald), and the selectors and I look at it, we love cobbling together a squad of players who we can call on at different times,” he added.
He has also confirmed that Mitchell Starc will play the final Test at SCG. However, the skipper mentioned that the southpaw is carrying a rib niggle and would play through the injury for the final Test.
Yet again, the Aussies were ready to hoist their sails in Sydney to help them reclaim the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, which they had not held in the past decade. It is also to put them in good stead for the race leading to a second consecutive final in the World Test Championship to defend their title.
Australia’s XI For Sydney Test: Sam Konstas, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, Travis Head, Beau Webster, Alex Carey (wk), Pat Cummins, Mitch Starc, Nathan Lyon, Scott Boland
