WTC Final: Australia's Beau Webster hopes to earn Lord's nod for South Africa clash
Australia all-rounder Beau Webster is leaving no stone unturned in his pursuit of a place in the starting XI for this week's ICC World Test Championship Final at Lord's, where Pat Cummins' side will take on South Africa in the much-anticipated title decider.Webster, 31, burst onto the Test scene earlier this year with a composed debut against India in Sydney and built on that momentum during the tour of Sri Lanka, where his dual skills with bat and ball gave Australia an added layer of balance. However, the return of Cameron Green from back surgery has added a layer of complexity to selection discussions, with Green set to feature in a specialist batting role.advertisementThat may still leave room for Webster's all-round talents, and he's determined to make a strong case. Speaking to ICC Digital, Webster expressed both pride in his journey and hunger to contribute on the biggest stage.
"I'd be hugely proud to represent the country in such a big game," Webster told ICC Digital."The boys look forward to this fixture and the two-year cycles means there is a lot of cricket to get to this point and being a part of that I'm really proud of. I'll be doing everything I can to try and play and show everyone what I can do."In preparation for English conditions, Webster spent May playing county cricket for Warwickshire, where he adapted impressively to the Dukes ball and unfamiliar pitches. His stint included valuable runs in the middle order and disciplined spells with the ball, experiences he believes have sharpened his game in time for the WTC Final.advertisement"I was lucky enough to play four games for Warwickshire in some different conditions with the Dukes ball," Webster said."I think it was only beneficial for both my batting and bowling and I feel like I'm hitting the ball as well as I ever have and hopefully that can continue if I get the nod (against South Africa)."With conditions at Lord's likely to aid seam and swing, Webster's versatility could be a key asset as Australia chase back-to-back WTC titles.
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