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Two all-rounders? Webster hopeful he and Green both make Ashes XI
Nicholas Quinlan • July 12th, 2025 6:00 pm
Australian all-rounder Beau Webster admitted that he didn’t think it was likely that he would make the Test squad.
Having made his first-class debut in 2014, it would take another 11 years for Webster to crack the national side, making his Test debut against India in Sydney.
Since then, he has been a revelation in the baggy green, averaging 40.22 with the bat at No. 6 and 24.42 with the ball across the six test matches he has played.
While he has been one of the most in-form players for Australia, it wasn’t always a certainty he would get to this stage, saying that he didn’t believe he would until a couple of years ago.
“It’s been a bit of a journey for me over the last ten or twelve years,” Webster told SEN’s Fridays with Flash.
“I suppose the last three to four (years), I’ve been able to put some really good Sheffield Shield seasons together.
“If you’d asked me four years ago if I was going to play Test cricket, I would have laughed in your face a little bit. It just goes to show us how strong our competition is down there in Sheffield Shield cricket, and if you do have a couple of good seasons, the selectors take note.”
Since making his debut at the start of the year for Australia, Webster has faced a multitude of different conditions, having now played in Sri Lanka, England and the West Indies, which have posed challenges in their own right.
However, the biggest challenge that Webster found was during that World Test Championship Final against South Africa when he had to face the likes of Kagiso Rabada and Marco Jansen in gloomy conditions.
“The wickets we’ve played on the last sort of six months as well, it hardly feels like there was a flat one other than a little bit in Sri Lanka, and even that in itself was quite tough with the spin,” he said.
“But I think going out to bat in that World Test Final under lights, cloudy and Rabada running in; it almost felt like that was as hard as a bowling spell that I’ve ever faced.
“And somehow, I managed to get through half an hour, and then I sort of through caution to the wind a little bit and started playing shots and put some pressure back on and ended up getting 72.
“But that first 30 minutes with big Jansen and Rabada was probably the first time I’ve thought, ‘Wow, this is top-level cricket’ and I think they’re both a fair bit better than I am.”
Casting his mind to the upcoming summer of cricket, the 31-year-old is hopeful that he’ll maintain his spot for the first Ashes Test in Perth alongside fellow all-rounder Cameron Green.
But made sure to note that his focus remains firmly on the current test series against the West Indies.
“It’s probably the pinnacle of our sport. You hear all the Test legends say that if you perform in Ashes cricket, then it’s up there with the best,” Webster explained.
“First and foremost, this Test, obviously, in a couple of days, is right on the front of my mind. Try and finish off this tour well. And then, you can’t help but think to look forward (to the Ashes).
“Five Tests all around Australia against a rampant English side, the Bazball team.
“It will be an unbelievable summer, and I’m not sure what the XI is going to look like. We’ve obviously got a bit of change at the top of the order and guys coming back, and Greeny obviously will be back bowling as well, and what does that do to the all-rounder role?
“I’m hoping we can both nestle into a spot within the top six there, but I’ll keep doing what I’ve been doing and try and get as many runs as I can, chip in with some wickets and hang on to my catches in the slips and try and make myself really hard to drop.”
Webster is expected to feature for Australia in the third and final Test against the West Indies.
That will take place at Sabina Park in Kingston with the first ball taking place on Sunday at 4:30 am (AEST).
SEN will have live coverage of the test match across its radio network and on the SEN app.
