Australia have added fast-bowling allrounder Beau Webster to their squad for the second Test of the ongoing Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Webster has been added amid the growing concerns over the fitness of Mitchell Marsh, who pulled up sore after the first Test of the five-match series in Perth.
Webster is a 30-year-old allrounder who plays for Tasmania in Australia's domestic circuit. He is in red-hot form with both the bat and ball in hand.
Webster scored 61 and 49 and also picked up five wickets in Tasmania's 55-run win over New South Wales in the 14th match of the Sheffield Shield this season at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG).
He has a wealth of first-class experience. In 93 first-class games, Webster has aggregated 5297 runs at an average of 37.83, including 12 centuries and 24 half-centuries.
He has also claimed 148 wickets at an average of 37.39 with the help of three four-fers and two five-wicket hauls in first-class cricket.
The Tasmania allrounder was also in superb form against India A in the recently concluded two-match unofficial Test series. After scoring an unbeaten 61 in Australia A's seven-wicket win in the first match, Webster claimed six wickets in the second game and also played an unbeaten knock of 46* to get the team over the line in a tense run chase.
Meanwhile, all the eyes are glued on Marsh as he battles to regain full fitness ahead of the second Test match of the series in Adelaide starting December 6. Marsh had sent down 17 overs in the Perth Test without playing any Shield game in the lead-up to the series opener.
Australia's squad for pink-ball Test in Adelaide vs India
Pat Cummins (c), Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Marsh, Nathan McSweeney, Steven Smith, Mitchell Starc and Beau Webster
