Australian all-rounder Beau Webster is feeling “speechless” after his impressive debut against India during the fifth Test here, which the hosts won by six wickets to reclaim the Border-Gavaskar Trophy after a decade.
Webster made 57 and an unbeaten 37 in the two innings of the Sydney Test, important contributions in the match’s context, besides taking the wicket of Shubman Gill in India’s second innings.
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“I’m a bit speechless, honestly. If you told me a week ago that all this would happen in the last few days, I wouldn’t have believed you,” Webster told cricket.com.au.
“It’s been a dream debut and to get the win there inside three days is a hell of a feeling. I’m sure the boys will celebrate accordingly,” he added.
Mitchell Starc, Scott Boland, Nathan Lyon, Pat Cummins and Beau Webster of Australia pose for a photo.
| Photo Credit:
Getty Images
Mitchell Starc, Scott Boland, Nathan Lyon, Pat Cummins and Beau Webster of Australia pose for a photo.
| Photo Credit:
Getty Images
The Tasmanian had a nice ending to his debut Test when he smashed spinner Washington Sundar for a boundary down the ground to collect the winning runs.
The 31-year-old said he would cherish that moment forever.
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“When I hit that cut-shot boundary, I saw we only needed four (to win) and I thought, ‘It’s got to be one of these two balls – how many chances are you going to get to hit a boundary for the winning runs for your country?’ “I was going to go no matter where that ball was, that last one, and managed to make the connection. I looked straight at ‘Heady’ (batting partner Travis Head) and he was up and about,” he noted.
“It was a great moment, probably one I’ll never forget. That’s something that might never happen again – especially a boundary on the fifth Test of a decider. It doesn’t get much better than that,” he added.
India’s Virat Kohli shakes congratulates Australia’s Beau Webster.
| Photo Credit:
AP
India’s Virat Kohli shakes congratulates Australia’s Beau Webster.
| Photo Credit:
AP
Webster replaced an out-of-form Mitchell Marsh in the Australia eleven for the New Year Test, and the all-rounder admitted that initially he felt a bit “awkward.” “It was a bit of an awkward moment. I sort of came to training at the last minute, and I didn’t think that they’d change the team. I hadn’t heard anything right up until the training (the day) before the game, and I just expected it to be the same XI.
“Then we got to the ground and asked Mitch what he was doing, and he said, ‘I’m waiting to see if I’m playing’. That hit me by surprise a little bit and then in the next hour or so, we were fumbling around until I went back into the change rooms.
“He (Marsh) had a big grin on his face and just said, ‘You’re in mate’. And he couldn’t have been happier. He’s been unbelievable this week,” Webster said, explaining the situation surrounding his entry into the Australian team.