Beau Webster makes perfect audition before bolting into Australia squad for second India Test

Aussie allrounder Beau Webster is expected to receive his maiden national call-up this week, with the Tasmanian reportedly set to be included in Australia's squad for the second Test against India at Adelaide Oval. Webster has been in top form at Sheffield Shield level this season and with Australian coach Andrew McDonald raising concerns over Mitch Marsh's fitness, Webster is expected to come in as injury cover.

The development comes as Webster iced Tasmania's tense 55-run Sheffield Shield victory over NSW on Wednesday, first putting an end to a defiant 10th-wicket partnership from Adam Zampa (16) and Chris Green (34 not out) before snaring Jackson Bird to seal the match in the same over.

Tasmania frustrated in the final hour after they looked set to cruise to victory after declaring 294 runs ahead. NSW were never going down without a fight and it took something special from Webster with the ball to dash NSW's hopes of coming away with a draw.

The all-rounder made an instant impact, picking up two crucial late wickets to secure the win for Tasmania, in a performance that grabbed the attention of McDonald. The towering 30-year-old first enticed Australian white-ball mainstay Zampa into nicking off to Jake Doran in the first ball of his new spell.

Paceman Jackson Bird then edged behind to Tim Ward without scoring later that over, with the Blues (338, 239) all out only 13 minutes before play was due to close on day four. The bowling heroics from reigning Sheffield Shield player of the series, Webster (2-25) came after handy contributions of 61 and 49 with the bat and sealed a first win of the season for Tasmania (364, 8-268 declared).

The Tasmanian was the leading run-scorer in the Sheffield Shield last summer and is averaging more than 60 in the current season. He has also proven himself to be more than handy with the ball and many believe he is ready for a Test call-up. Tasmanian captain Jordan Silk is one of those who believes he can do great things on the international stage, singing the all-rounder's praises after the win. "He's a special player at the moment," Silk said of Webster. "Any time I feel like we're in trouble I feel like I can throw him the ball and he just seems to be able to create something. I know there's a bit of talk around him potentially as a back-up (Test) allrounder and I'm very supportive of that move if they are to go that way."

Webster, who hails from Snug in Tasmania’s south, has been one of the most consistent Shield cricketers over the past two seasons. Since the start of 2022/23, the hulking all-rounder has accumulated 1788 runs at an average of 51.08 - including five hundreds and nine fifties. Only one player has managed more runs during that period, opener and fellow Test hopeful Cameron Bancroft.

The 30-year-old is also a handy right-armed seamer in his own right, claiming 30 Sheffield Shield wickets at an average of 29.30 last summer. Webster has also showcased he can perform at a higher level, scoring 145 runs and contributing to seven wickets in the recent Australia A series against India A.

Beau Webster unlikely to play even if Mitch Marsh can't bowl

Marsh has not been a regular bowler for Australia since his return to the starting XI in the Ashes. However, due to the absence of Cameron Green, the all-rounder was called upon to bowl 17 overs in the first Test. And skipper Pat Cummins admitted the workload had taken a toll on him, plunging his availability for the Adelaide Test into doubt.

On Tuesday evening, McDonald claimed Marsh would be monitored leading into the second and third Test and may not bowl. This has prompted him to move to bring in Webster, however, he will only serve as a backup to Marsh and it is understood he will only take the field if Marsh is ruled out with injury.

Selectors are believed to stick with Marsh even as a batter-only selection for the Adelaide Test starting next Friday, while reserve batter Josh Inglis also remains in the squad and could also replace him if he is ruled out.

Marsh pulled up sore after bowling the most overs he has in a game for three years, with Australia also relying on overs of spin and medium-pace from Marnus Labuschagne. The development came as Cricket Australia emphatically shut down the prospect of any of its out-of-form batters being parachuted into the Prime Minister's XI side for this weekend.

RELATED:

• Sad state of Australian team laid bare as Justin Langer detail called out

• Ricky Ponting ends relationship with Steve Smith as Warner snubbed

• Usman Khawaja furore deepens after angry swipe from Michael Clarke

Andrew McDonald gives Aussie side rest ahead of second Test

India will get an opportunity to face a pink ball in the two-day game against the PM's XI, starting on Saturday at Manuka Oval. Former Test bastman Matt Renshaw, along with fast bowler Scott Boland, are among those included in the PM's XI squad. But McDonald said there was no plan to ever send any of Australia's first Test team down for the game, stating with the long summer ahead it wouldn't be wise and says he'd prefer them to go home and have some time with their families.

"We feel that with the long summer ahead, the prep we've got in place ... we'll be well prepared as we were leading into the first Test," McDonald said. "They'll have some hits when they're back home, so part of the preparation will be when they're at home as well as when we get to Adelaide. Bowlers will go through their work in terms of recovery."

But after the first Test finished on day four, Australia have decided to arrive in Adelaide on Monday - 24 hours earlier than initially planned. "Obviously shifting into pink ball which will create different challenges in the way we go about it, so we'll invest in that extra day," McDonald said.

Australia will have to overturn recent history to regain the Border-Gavaskar trophy after going 1-0 down in the best-of-five series. The last time Australia recovered after losing the first Test and came back to win the series was in the 1997 Ashes in England.