‘Get him in’: Push for Webster as selectors avoid panic button

Test great Ian Healy has called for Beau Webster to be seriously considered for selection for the second Test against resurgent India next week after the hard-hitting all-rounder was drafted into Australia’s 14-man squad on Thursday.

The national selectors have shown faith in the team that was badly beaten in Perth, and hope for a quick rebound in the pink-ball Test, beginning next Friday.

In the frame: Tasmanian all-rounder Beau Webster could replace Mitch Marsh for the Adelaide Test.Credit: Getty Images

Cricket Australia announced on Thursday the same squad that was selected for the humbling 295-run defeat inside four days in the series opener at Optus Stadium, except for the addition of all-rounder Webster as potential cover for Mitch Marsh, who is managing an ankle issue.

Webster could come into calculations for Marsh if the robust West Australian is unable to bowl the overs required of him. Marsh has ongoing ankle problems, which can mean he struggles to back up quickly with the ball, but he did contribute 47 with the bat in Australia’s second innings in Perth.

CA high-performance chief Ben Oliver said it was “no secret” that Marsh was dealing with soreness. He will need to prove his fitness at training next week ahead of back-to-back Tests. The third Test in Brisbane will begin on December 14.

“The group will assess all the players when they assemble into Adelaide. It’s no secret that Mitch has had a little bit of soreness, and he is managing his way through that,” Oliver said.

Webster impressed the national selectors during the Australia A series and looked the most composed batter, other than Perth Test debutant Nathan McSweeney. He is also an extremely versatile bowler, offering quality medium-fast bowling with plenty of height.

Healy said Webster should be seriously considered for a call-up, and not just as cover for Marsh.

“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. You drop [Scott] Boland out … and add Beau Webster,” Healy said on SEN.

“He’s through his injury phases. He’s massive, he’s two metres tall, and he’s performed at every level – youth cricket, second XI, Australia A and Shield level.

“He’s an all-rounder, he’s consistent with the 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.”

Webster has 303 Sheffield Shield runs this year at an average of 50.50. He also has nine wickets.

He said on Thursday that selection chairman George Bailey had called him with the good news after play had finished in the Sheffield Shield match at the SCG on Wednesday, leaving him “stoked”.

“To get the call from ‘Bails’ at the end of the game was a really proud moment and I can’t wait to get stuck in,” Webster said.

“I have been in good form for a while now, and am hoping to carry that on and keep pressing my case.”

Oliver said the XI may remain unchanged in Adelaide, but a final call would be made by the selectors.

“I am not expecting any huge changes in the way that we are approaching the Test series. We have got a very strong, experienced squad, but they will make their assessments on the conditions,” he said.

Oliver defended the team’s preparation ahead of Perth, which included resting players from international white-ball cricket and Sheffield Shield matches.

“It’s a very experienced team, and they have had a really consistent approach to the way they prepare for major international series over a period of time now and that has served them well with some really strong performances across formats over the last few years – a lot of trust and confidence in the method they are using to prepare,” Oliver said.

“What I do know is that they will be recovering from this first Test, they will be working in their home-state environments, they will come together in Adelaide. They will be very thorough … and will be very well-prepared come the start of the Adelaide Test.”

Captain Pat Cummins said after the Perth defeat that selectors were likely to show faith in the team.

They appear likely to stick with Marnus Labuschagne at No.3, despite the Queenslander’s worrying dip in form.

Labuschagne has only 330 runs at 23 since Boxing Day last year. He made only two off 52 balls in the first innings in Perth, while in the second innings he shouldered arms to Jasprit Bumrah and was trapped lbw for three.

The dynamic Josh Inglis is the spare batsman in the squad.

Former Australian captain Michael Clarke has backed Labuschagne to remain at No.3.

“I still think he’s our best option [at No.3]. I think he’s a very good player who’s out of form, but I think he can turn that around if he gets his preparation right and looks after his mind, probably even gets away from the game for a couple of days in the lead-up to this second Test,” Clarke said on ESPN’s Around the Wicket.

The Perth defeat was the first time Australia have dropped consecutive matches at home since the infamous South Africa series of 2016-17.

Australia will arrive in Adelaide on Monday, where they will use training sessions to adjust to the twilight conditions come game time.

Australia squad: 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.

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