Sean Abbott and Beau Webster are linked by a common thread. They are just about there but not quite there when it comes to selection in Australia’s final Test eleven. They get summoned for national duty, attend nets and then go back to domestic commitments, only to be called back again raising hope of wearing that elusive Baggy Green. Abbott, 32, has played 56 International games since his white ball debut a decade ago, but is still waiting to wear the whites and hold a red Kookaburra. Webster, 31, is a proper domestic doyen with 93 games under his belt in which he has made 5297 runs and grabbed 148 wickets.

Webster knows he is good but also knows that the team thinks Mitch Marsh may be slightly better although the former looked way more assured with the willow than ‘Bison’.

Similarly, Abbott accepts that he is not even the fourth but the fifth choice in pecking order of Australian pacers.

So, do you think you will get a game tomorrow? Webster was asked and he gave a cautious reply.

“We have got main training tomorrow. We will see how boys go. We have already got an all-rounder and he is still in that spot,” Webster said during his interaction at the MCG.

“He is a great player, a fantastic player, he has had some success across formats and I am just here to cover him if something goes wrong,” he seemed to know his position.

Abbott was slightly more humorous with his take but acknowledged that it was a privilege to be in the Australian dressing room along with the big boys.

“Obviously, I think if I’m not getting any games it’s a good thing for the team because it means we’re full strength. I think the guys are feeling quite good at the moment. I’m obviously here as cover for any of the bowlers,” his answer sounded quite similar to that of Webster’s.

“But I’m really enjoying it. I love being around this team as I have done with the Waffle set up for a number of years, but you know this is Boxing Day, being involved with the Australian Test side.” So, is it an acceptance that with Pat Cummins (the skipper), Mitchell Starc (the left-armer) and Josh Hazlewood (ruled out of series) being around, it became all the more difficult for him? Well, he finds solace in fellow pacer Scott Boland’s situation and what former quick James Pattinson used to go through.

“I’d probably throw Scotty (Boland) in there as well and make it four (pacers). Although he hasn’t played a heap of cricket for Australia just yet, he’s had three years of playing Test cricket every time he comes in and does well.

“I can tell you there were a lot of batters around the country heaving a sigh of relief when he came into the Test team and did what he did.

“I wouldn’t say it’s frustrating because they’re great cricketers. Even when Jimmy Pattinson was the other guy that was involved before Scotty, these are all guys that are unbelievable at what they do.” He accepts that it is hectic but enjoyable at the same time.

“Team is just something else altogether. So, I’m just enjoying my time. You know, it’s been a little bit hectic flying in and out and getting BBL games done, having the young one arrive and all that sort of stuff. So, it’s been a great time.

“But the way the group is, it’s just a great sort of environment to be around.” For Webster, he has supreme confidence in his batting which is more about counter-punching while bowling is about maintaining the channel around the off-stump.

“With the ball, I just aim at consistency. Trying to hit the top of off-stump and try to run the ball back into the right-handers. If there’s a bit of swing on offer, I think I can take that as well…It’s just those simple things done over and over again, I think, is my strength,” the lanky all-rounder said.

“I think in the last 2 to 3 years, I have batted No. 6 for Tasmania in (Sheffield) Shield cricket and come in and do a counter-punching sort of role….to be able to counter-punch our way out of that (trouble) and get us to a total that our quicks can bowl at. I think it’s definitely one of my strengths with the bat,” said Webster.

They may still be on the periphery but that hope, minuscule it may be, of wearing the Baggy Green makes their wait worthwhile.

Sean Abbott and Brendon Doggett have been added to Australia’s squad for 2nd Test.© AFP

Sean Abbott was seen wiping away tears as family and friends paid tribute to the late Australian cricketer Phillip Hughes on Wednesday to mark the 10-year anniversary of his tragic death after being struck on the neck while batting. Abbott bowled the fatal delivery that struck Hughes during a Sheffield Shield match between New South Wales and South Australia in 2014 at the Sydney Cricket Ground. NSW players consoled Abbott as they stood for an emotional tribute, including observing a minute’s silence, before the start of play on day four of their Sheffield Shield match against Tasmania at the SCG.

Hughes, who played 26 Tests, 25 ODIs and one T20I for Australia, lost his life three days before his 26th birthday.

Players in the Sheffield Shield have been wearing black armbands in matches since Saturday as a tribute to Hughes.

“Today marks the 10-year anniversary of the passing of our treasured son and brother, Phillip Joel Hughes,” the family said in its message.

“Phillip was a loving, humorous and an infectious person to be around.” According to reports in local media, Abbott was consulted in advance about whether he would be comfortable with a match being scheduled on the anniversary of one of the most saddest moments in Australian sports.

The family further said, “He always aimed to make those around him smile and enjoy the little things in life, where his beautiful smile would come to life. He shined bright even in the tough times, which is a testament to who he was as a person, and we loved everything about him.

“He was the light of our lives. Phillip had a profound love for his family and lived his life with respect to everyone around him.

Cricket Australia had planned in advance a series of initiatives to mark the 10th anniversary of Hughes’ death including a tribute before the start of the second Test between India and Australia at the Adelaide Oval scheduled from December 6-10.

“Phillip, the small-town country boy, became an Australian Test, One-Day and Twenty-20 cricketer, where he played on the toughest pitches around the globe, alongside the toughest of cricketers on the world stage, but never forgot where he came from and who helped along the way,” the family said in the message.

“He was a unique individual that took risky and adventurous strides to conquer the dreams he set for himself to become test baggy green number 408.

“He played cricket for all the right reasons and had the ability to take it all in his stride. He loved being a part of a team and representing Australia for the game he loved so deeply.” Cricket Australia, which has produced a special documentary on him, will broadcast it ahead of the second Test between India and Australia, as part of a two-week commemoration programme.

Batting on 63, Hughes collapsed before receiving mouth-to-mouth resuscitation and was subsequently taken to Sydney’s St Vincent’s Hospital, where he underwent surgery and was placed in an induced coma.

Hughes, however, could not recover from the blow and died on November 27. The left-hander was viewed as one of the promising Australian cricketers as the team went through a transitional phase.

In the Australia-India Adelaide Test that followed his death a decade ago, the southpaw was named as the home team’s 13th player with 63 (the score he was batting at in his last match) seconds of applause observed ahead of the game.

Australia on Monday left out their Test stars for the home T20 series against Pakistan, with a new captain set to be named. The three-match T20 series next month will conclude only four days before Australia embark on the first of a five home Tests against India. Selectors rested fast bowlers Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood, along with other Test players Mitchell Marsh and Travis Head. All-rounder Cameron Green is injured and will miss the entire Australian summer.

Marsh is the usual T20 captain, leaving Josh Inglis, Adam Zampa, Glenn Maxwell and Matt Short in the mix to take charge against Pakistan.

Fast bowlers Xavier Bartlett, Nathan Ellis and Spencer Johnson all return after injuries for the matches in Brisbane on November 14, Sydney two days later and Hobart on November 18.

The first Test against India begins in Perth on November 22.  

“This group of players have all represented Australia in T20 cricket, so we look forward to them continuing to enhance their international experience throughout this series,” said chief selector George Bailey.

“We are excited by the mix of experience combined with those closer to the start of their international journeys.”

The T20s follow a three-match one-day international series against Pakistan beginning on November 4.

Cummins, Hazlewood and Starc were included in the one-day squad announced two weeks ago, but Marsh and Head will be on paternity leave.

Australia T20 squad: Sean Abbott, Xavier Bartlett, Cooper Connolly, Tim David, Nathan Ellis, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Aaron Hardie, Josh Inglis, Spencer Johnson, Glenn Maxwell, Matthew Short, Marcus Stoinis, Adam Zampa

Sean Abbott took four wickets and Travis Head made 91 as Australia sweep series.© AFP