‘Dirty offies’ to Aussie call-up: How Slug’s sliding doors moment could solve Green dilemma

Four years ago, during the height of Covid-19 lockdowns, Beau Webster decided to give up his “dirty offies” and learn the craft of seam bowling.

In a sliding doors moment, the Tasmanian cricketer hit the gym and reinvented himself as a paceman, hoping to add another string to his bow and provide the Tigers with more bowling options.

The decision has indirectly led to his maiden Test call-up, named in Australia’s 14-player squad for next week’s day-night contest against India in Adelaide as injury cover for fellow all-rounder Mitchell Marsh.

An hour before learning the news, Webster was bowling Tasmania to victory in a Sheffield Shield clash against New South Wales at the SCG, taking two wickets in what proved the final over of the match.

“He’s a special player at the moment,” Tasmanian captain Jordan Silk said of Webster.

“Any time I feel like we’re in trouble, I can throw him the ball and he just seems to be able to create something, or any time we’re in similar trouble with the bat then he’s able to dig us out of it. He showed his class this game.

“He’s shown in the last 18 to 24 months that he’s one of the best Sheffield Shield players currently.”

Beau Webster of the Tigers celebrates with teammates. Photo by Jason McCawley/Getty Images

After making his first-class debut in 2014, Webster floated up and down the Tasmanian side’s batting order while contributing some part-time finger spin.

However, the 200cm all-rounder nicknamed ‘Slug’ has become the state’s most valuable player over the past 24 months, helping the Tigers reach the Sheffield Shield final last summer.

Since the start of the 2022/23 season, Webster has compiled 1837 runs at 51.01 — only West Australian opener Cameron Bancroft has bettered that tally.

The 30-year-old, who hails from Snug in Tasmania’s south, has also taken 39 wickets at 37.44 since the start of last summer, regularly bowling first change for the Tigers.

Meanwhile, apart from captain Nathan McSweeney, Webster was the most impressive batter during this month’s Australia A series against India, notching 145 runs at 72.50 while snaring seven wickets at 19.57.

“He’s basically playing as our third seamer and top-six batter, which is a pretty good luxury to have in our side,” Silk continued.

“He’d probably say it was one of the best career moves of all time to give up his dirty offies and go to seam bowling because it’s now looking like it could open many more doors for him.

“I think he’s gained the respect of the competition with those seamers, and that probably took maybe a year or two for people to really see that.”

Beau Webster of Tasmania. Photo by Darrian Traynor/Getty Images

Webster, the reigning Sheffield Shield player of the season, has been added to the Test squad as Marsh’s like-for-like replacement, but the right-hander’s versatility adds intrigue to the selection. At first-class level, he’s batted everywhere from opener to No. 7, while he can switch between seamers and off-spin pending conditions and match-ups.

If Marsh, who pulled up “a bit sore” after the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series opener in Perth, is unable to prove his fitness ahead of the Adelaide contest, Webster could become Australia’s 468th men’s Test cricketer.

“I’d be comfortable to do whatever they require; I feel like I’ve done it all in the last ten years at the top and in the middle,” Webster said on Thursday.

“I daresay the role will be somewhere between that five and seven with the bat and some overs as well, predominantly seam up.

“We’ve got the spin department covered pretty convincingly with Nathan (Lyon) and a few other guys who bowl some part-time spin.”

Sam Konstas and Beau Webster of Australia A. Photo by Darrian Traynor/Getty Images

However, there is potential for Marsh and Webster to slot into the same starting XI should national selectors want an additional bowling option in the absence of the injured Cameron Green.

Ahead of the summer, captain Pat Cummins spoke about the West Australian’s importance with the ball — and his seamers were sorely missed at Perth Stadium last week.

Marsh was tasked with bowling 17 overs in the Perth match, the most he’s produced in any Test since 2019. He snared two crucial wickets on day one but conceded nearly five runs per over in the second innings, while the post-match niggle has cast further doubt on whether he’s equipped to serve as Australia’s fifth bowler.

Without access to Green’s awkward bumpers, Australia instead turned to Marnus Labuschagne for a short-ball burst in the second innings, a decision that was widely mocked. The Queenslander’s bouncers looked amateurish.

National selector George Bailey has previously referred to Green’s bowling as a “bonus” or a “luxury”, but the 295-run loss to Perth demonstrated the value of having a genuine all-rounder in the starting XI.

That’s where Webster enters the equation.

Beau Webster of Tasmania. Photo by Darrian Traynor/Getty Images

With pressure mounting on Labuschagne to rediscover his form, a middle-order reshuffle could create a vacancy in the Test starting XI. If Steve Smith was elevated to first drop with Marsh playing as a specialist batter at No. 4, the door would open for Webster’s inclusion.

“I can’t wait to get training and just be around the Test set-up,” Webster continued.

“I’ve been in good form for a while now – I’m hoping to carry that on and keep pressing my case.

“Being added to the squad is one thing, to debut is another – if I do, I’ll be stoked and try and grab it with both hands.

“They’re (Australia) a pretty formidable side and I’m sure we’re going to bounce back after that first Test.”

The second Test between Australia and India gets underway at Adelaide Oval on Friday, December 6.