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Australian allrounder Beau Webster puts Lord's World Test final preparation before honeymoon
Australian allrounder Beau Webster is looking forward to playing at Lord's after being a spectator for many years. Picture: AFP
Image: Picture: AFP
LONDON: There are not many that would choose Birmingham in the West Midlands of England as their first-choice honeymoon destination, but that's where Australian allrounder Beau Webster and his long-time partner Maddy headed off to after their recent nuptials.
Webster, having struck a half-century on his Test debut against India over the course of the home summer in the Gavaskar-Border series before touring Sri Lanka, was desperate to get in some more red-ball time in a bid to secure a place in the Australian starting XI for the World Test Championship final against Australia.
'Yeah, she probably would have chosen somewhere sunnier than Birmingham, but I'm sure we will get away at some point in the next few months once the cricket is done,' Webster told the media at Lord's on Sunday.
'But for me, it was always about getting over here and getting amongst the Duke ball. Obviously, it reacts differently here with the swing and the bounce. So, to get four games for Warwickshire - two at home and two away - was nice to expose myself to different conditions with both bat and ball.
'It's the best prep I could have given myself coming into this Test.'
Having belatedly made his Test debut at 31, Webster doesn't want to waste any time in ticking off the major bucket list items in his career. Playing at Lord's in the Baggy Green after being a spectator for so many years is certainly high up there.
'I've been here a couple of times to watch a few games over the years, but to be out in the middle is extra special, so if I do get the nod, I'd be hugely proud to represent the country in such a big game," Webster said.
"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."