Is Beau Webster Ready to Shine in White-Ball Cricket for Australia?

New Delhi, Sep 15 (NationPress) Beau Webster is focused on enhancing his profile as a potential one-day player ahead of the 2027 ODI World Cup, although he confesses that his interest in white-ball cricket has diminished as he concentrates more on Test cricket.

This week, he will represent Tasmania in the opening round of the One-Day Cup, starting with a match against New South Wales in Sydney on Tuesday, followed by a game against Victoria in Brisbane on Friday, leading into the Sheffield Shield season in early October.

Webster’s List A statistics are modest, showcasing a batting average of 30.31 and a strike rate of 77.10, with his only century dating back to 2017 for a Cricket Australia XI during a developmental competition.

"I would love to play white-ball cricket for Australia," Webster told ESPNcricinfo. "Perhaps more one-day cricket than T20 right now. I feel like I haven’t played it in a long time."

"For the past year, I’ve been solely focused on red-ball cricket, including county, Shield, and Test cricket. I feel like I’ve hardly hit a white ball, and the training methods differ significantly between formats."

"My red-ball game is in a strong position, and my preparation is solid. I haven't thought much about white-ball cricket, but if the chance arises, I would jump at the opportunity to represent my country in those colors."

The upcoming men's 50-over World Cup is scheduled to take place in South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia in October and November of 2027. Webster’s dynamic medium pace and ability to handle fast bowling could align well with the conditions in Southern Africa.

Australia’s ODI setup is evolving, especially in the batting lineup, following the retirements of Steven Smith and Glenn Maxwell. Aaron Hardie has struggled to secure the No. 7 position during recent matches against South Africa. Meanwhile, Webster’s Tasmanian teammate Mitchell Owen was set to participate in that series but was sidelined due to concussion.

"If you're scoring runs and taking wickets in Test cricket, you’re always viewed as an option," Webster remarked. "Performing at that level indicates transferable skills to one-day cricket. I hope I remain in the conversation if I continue to perform in the One-Day Cup and at the Test level. I want my name mentioned for a potential debut."

In white-ball cricket, Webster is back with the defending champions, Hobart Hurricanes, for the BBL. However, if he joins the Ashes series, his participation may only commence post the final Test, and he acknowledges the challenge of breaking into the team.

"It’s going to be a competitive top six to enter," he stated. "Most of the roster from our title-winning team remains, and everyone aspires to bat at Bellerive. It's an excellent venue for batting, and we have some world-class players in that XI. I hope to be part of the Ashes series for all five Tests and then return to the Hurricanes to contribute if needed."