Former Australian cricketer Bryce McGain says Australia needs to continue trusting Sheffield Shield performances after a spectacular debut from Beau Webster. 

The Tasmanian all-rounder was called into the Australian side to replace an underperforming Mitch Marsh for the final test of the Border-Gavaskar series in Sydney. 

On the final day, Webster notched up a crucial 39* off 34 deliveries, including an the all-important boundary which secured the series 3-1 and saw the Border-Gavaskar trophy return to Australia after spending a decade in India. 

He also became the first Tasmanian since Ricky Ponting to score a half-century on test debut, after notching up 57 runs. It was also Australia’s highest individual score with the bat of the SCG test.

Reflecting on the series, McGain believes Webster’s debut after a strong Shield campaign proves Shield top performers are ‘international ready’. 

“We’ve been talking about Shield cricket and how important is and how we need to trust it. A lot of people think no one’s knocking the door down. You just don’t know,” he told SportFM.

“You’re not looking at the right things and you don’t understand how valuable Sheffield Shield Cricket is. If you have that opinion you need to shake it up because this is that guy who’s been there before. 

“A couple of years ago, he was there and thereabouts and then it all fell into place for him. He scored over 900 runs last Sheffield Shield year and it built his confidence and took 30 plus wickets.

“He’s gone ahead and done a similar thing now. He’s absolutely prepared. The top performers in Shield cricket are international ready and he’s showing that when he does get the opportunity.” 

The Sydney test had plenty at stake for both the Australian and Indian sides, with not only the series in the balance, but the World Test Championship finals too. 

It could not have been a more high pressure situation for the Tasmanian to have made his debut in, but he handled the pressure exceptionally well, not just with the bat but also with the ball. 

Webster took the wicket of Shubman Gill in India’s second innings, while also taking three catches out on the field. 

McGain believes Webster was a valuable addition to the side in Sydney. 

“The measure of a good batsman is if there’s a chase there, whether it’s big, small, in challenging conditions, dodgy wickets which it certainly was in Sydney, he was able to withstand all of that and be there when the winning runs are being hit,” he said.

“He got the opportunity to do that and shake the opposition’s hand. That’s the mark of a good player. 

“He was able to bowl a lot more overs than what we’ve been able to have with Mitch Marsh. I think that also has helped support the rest of the bowling unit and they certainly needed that.

“To have someone like a Beau Webster there to bowl more overs and keep challenging was a tremendous debut for the test cricket.

“The future is pretty good for him. He’ll play an important role in that all-rounder pivot role and it was a great debut and incredibly proud for a first test by Webster.” 

Looking forward, given Webster’s outstanding debut, there are question marks that sit over Marsh’s future in the Australian test team. 

The Australian White Ball captain had a limited impact with bat and ball in the series, but McGain hope it isn’t the end and he can find some form again. 

“Maybe he’s a bit hamstrung with some injury or just some mobility that limited his bowling impact. Certainly as a younger player his bowling impact was a lot greater,” he said.

“I enjoy him in the Australian team. He will play a key role in white ball cricket for Australia in the future and he’s fully free flowing batting certainly suited to the top of the order in the white ball game. 

“I hope it’s not the end but I fear that maybe the time has come when someone like a Beau Webster who’s put together that body of work… of course Cameron Green will be coming back at some point. 

“He may just be a few runs down now, it’ll take some incredible Shield performances but that’s okay I’m sure if he’s got the appetite, he’s capable of doing that.“

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