Who is Beau Webster? The latest inclusion in Australian Test squad

The 30-year-old Tasmanian all-rounder Beau Webster has been added to the Australian Test squad for the upcoming day-night pink-ball Adelaide Test. The Adelaide Test will start on December 6. 

Australia are 0-1 behind against India in the five-match home Test series of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 after losing the Test series opener by 295 runs. While the Aussie all-rounder Mitchell Marsh is struggling with his fitness issues, Webster has been added to the squad. 

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Beau Webster: Special all-rounder

The right-handed batter Webster is one of the unique cricketers, as he can bowl right-arm medium or off-spin, just like the former Aussie cricketers Collin Miller and Andrew Symonds.

In-form

In the last seven first-class innings, Webster scored two 60s and three more 40s. Recently, he served for Australia A, who hosted two first-class matches against India A. While Australia A won both matches, Webster had important roles with the bat in those matches as he remained not out in both fourth innings to guide the hosts to comfortable victories. After scoring 61 not out in the fourth innings of the first game, the right-handed batter scored 46 not out in the fourth innings of the next match. 

Meanwhile, while Webster took only one wicket in the first first-class match against India A, he took three wickets in both innings of the next game.

Outstanding in the last season 

Last season, Webster ended the Sheffield Shield season by scoring 938 runs (average 58.62) and taking 30 wickets. The right-handed batter was the leading run-scorer in that tournament with the help of three centuries and six half-centuries. He also finished as the joint 11th most wicket-taker in that competition, including one four-fer.

In the 132-year-old Sheffield Shield history, Webster became the only second cricketer to score 900 runs and take 30 wickets in a season. Caribbean legend Sir Garry Sobers was the first to achieve these dual records. In the 1963-64 season, Sobers scored 973 runs and took 47 wickets as his team South Australia won that tournament. 

In the ongoing Sheffield Shield 2024-25, Webster has scored 303 runs in six innings, including one century and one half-century. In the meantime, he has taken nine wickets in eight innings.

6-fer in the last List A game

Before the first-class matches against India A, Webster claimed a six-wicket haul in one match of the domestic one-day cup as his dominating bowling bundled out the defending champions Western Australia for only 53 runs. 

BBL stats

In his BBL career, Webster has served for three teams, Hobart Hurricanes, Melbourne Renegades, and Melbourne Stars. He has scored 1393 runs in 63 innings with an average of 28.42 and a strike rate of 119.36. The right-handed batter has scored 11 half-centuries in his BBL career. Meanwhile, he has also taken 15 wickets in his BBL career.