File photo of Mitchell Marsh.© AFP

Australia’s Beau Webster has been included in the Australian squad for the second Border-Gavaskar Trophy Test against India in Adelaide.
| Photo Credit: Getty Images

Beau Webster has been added to the Australia squad for the second Test against India at Adelaide from December 6.

The all-rounder from Tasmania, has been drafted in as cover for Mitchell Marsh, who was injured during the first Test at Perth which the host lost by 295 runs.

While the Australian team-management have hinted at sticking with the same unit, Marsh’s fitness concern may force a change.

Webster, also a right-hand pace all-rounder like Marsh, has been the stand out performer in the Sheffield Shield over the past two years. The 30-year-old has collected 1788 runs including five hundreds and nine fifties.

He also impressed in the A series against India earlier this month, becoming the the second highest run-getter for Australia A behind compatriot Nathan McSweeney, collecting 145 runs across four innings at an impressive average of 72.50.

With the ball, he became the joint-leading wicket-taker alongside Brendan Doggett both taking seven scalps each.

“To get a few runs and wickets (for Australia A) was pleasing against a strong Indian side,” Webster was quoted as saying by cricket.com.au ahead of the announcement on Thursday.

“Any time you’re playing ‘A’ cricket, it’s the one step below Test level, so it does hold you in good stead. To get the call from ‘‘Bails’‘ (men’s selection chair George Bailey) at the end of the NSW game was a really proud moment and I can’t wait to get stuck in.” Webster will join the Australian squad in Adelaide next week.

“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,” Webster added.

(With inputs from PTI)

Former Australian wicketkeeper batter Ian Healy has urged the team think tank to seriously consider handing Beau Webster a Test cap in the pink ball fixture against India at Adelaide next week. The selectors on Thursday added the Tasmanian all-rounder to the squad for the second Test as a cover for Mitchell Marsh, who is managing an ankle issue. But Healy doesn’t want Webster to just be a “standby”. “I like that, but I don’t reckon standby, get him in,” Healy said on SEN Radio.

“I don’t really like just adding him to the squad unless he’s going to play, drop the 12th man.” Marsh had pulled up sore after bowling the most overs he has in a Test match in three years during the Perth Test.

As a result, Australia had to rely on spin and medium-pace overs from Marnus Labuschagne, along with five overs of off-spin from Travis Head during their 295-run humbling in the series opener.

Webster, who is also a right-arm pacer like Marsh, is expected to come into the equation if the Western Australian can’t bowl the overs required of him.

“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,” Healy, a veteran of 119 Tests, 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,” Healy opined.

Webster has been the stand out performer in the Sheffield Shield over the past two years. He has collected 303 Shield runs this year at an average of 50.50 while also picking up nine wickets.

The Adelaide Test begins on December 6.