Calls are growing for Beau Webster to return to the Aussie Test XI at the expense of Cameron Green after the latter fell for just 7 at the Adelaide Oval on Friday. Green made a duck in the first innings of the third Ashes Test, before being caught at slip in the second dig on day three.
It was a similar mode of dismissal for Green, who edged the ball to Harry Brook while driving at a wide delivery from Josh Tongue. “He could have left both of those,” Aussie legend Glenn McGrath said on BBC after Green fished at a number of wide balls. “But he didn’t learn.”
Cameron Green (L) made 0 and 7 in the third Ashes Test. Image: Getty
Green has just one half-century in his last 15 Test innings, averaging 21.9 across that period. The all-rounder averages just 28.62 in Tests on home soil – the lowest mark by any Aussie batter in the last 41 years (with a minimum of 20 innings).
The 26-year-old averages 34.04 in Tests overall, which isn’t exactly good enough for a batter in the top five of the order. He’s viewed as a generational talent who will have a long career in the baggy green, but he hasn’t quite nailed it in his 34 Tests so far.
Cricket fans call for return of Beau Webster
Green was recently snapped up for $4.17 million in the IPL auction, but his white-ball prowess hasn’t helped his red-ball cricket. As for Webster, he was extremely unlucky to miss out on all three Tests this series so far.
The 32-year-old was one of the heroes of Australia’s 3-1 series victory over India last summer, and also performed well in the West Indies. But he was dropped for the Ashes in favour of Green, after averaging 34.63 in his seven Tests to date.
Webster averages 37.48 in his first-class career, with Green holding a far superior 46.06 mark. But Webster was in good form before being dropped when Green came back from injury.
Beau Webster (L) didn’t do a lot wrong before being dropped. (Photo by Mark Brake/Getty Images)
One fan wrote on social media on Friday: “Dear Aussie Selectors: Please bring Beau Webster in for the Boxing Day Test. Green needs to go back to Shield cricket for a good spell. Another commented: “Remind me why Cameron Green is in this Australian side and Beau Webster isn’t???”
A third added: “Surely Beau Webster gets brought back in. Not quite sure why he got dropped in the first place. Hasn’t done a lot wrong in Test team.”
Selectors facing dilemma with Steve Smith return
Tellingly, Webster is still Australia’s fifth-highest run-scorer in Test matches this year, behind only Travis Head, Alex Carey, Steve Smith and Usman Khawaja. Selectors will face a dilemma if Smith is fit to return for the fourth Test at the MCG.
Khawaja scored 82 and 40 in Adelaide after his recall, and will be very hard to drop for the MCG. Josh Inglis looms as the man most likely to make way, unless selectors go without an all-rounder and drop Green.