Australian all-rounder Beau Webster is motivated to make the starting XI for the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) final at Lord’s, which begins on Wednesday, June 11.
Australia, headed by Pat Cummins, will defend their World Cricket Championship title against South Africa at The Home of Cricket.
Webster earned his Test debut against India at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) earlier this year. In two innings, the 31-year-old scored 57 and 39* runs and took Shubman Gill’s wicket. In Sri Lanka, he scored 54 runs in two innings and claimed two wickets. He averages 50 with the bat and 24 with the ball.
Notably, star all-rounder Cameron Green has returned to the Australian team after being sidelined for several months following back surgery. However, he is expected to play as a specialist batter. This maintains Webster on the selectors’ radar as the only seam-bowling all-rounder against the Proteas.
“I’d be quite honoured to represent my country in such a major event. The guys are looking forward to this fixture, and the two-year cycles mean there has been a lot of cricket to get to this point, which I am really proud of. Webster told ICC Digital, “I’ll do everything I can to play and show everyone what I’m capable of.”
To prepare for English conditions, Webster spent May playing county cricket for Warwickshire. He became acclimated to the Dukes ball and the strange surfaces. He scored key runs in the middle order and bowled consistently in good lines and lengths, allowing the specialist bowlers to hold on. The Tasmanian player stated that the spell has helped him improve his talents in English conditions.
“I was fortunate to play four games for Warwickshire in various conditions with the Dukes ball. I believe it was only good to my batting and bowling, and I feel like I’m striking the ball as well as I’ve ever done, and hopefully that will continue if I get the call (against South Africa),” Webster said.