Beau Webster issued a reminder to the nation it was never too late to keep the hope garnering a shock Test debut alive.
His exploits in sealing the Border-Gavaskar Trophy for Australia should only strengthen the resolve of the career battlers in the Sheffield Shield.
At 31, Webster proved his decade spent fine-tuning his craft for Tasmania was not in vain – two incredibly gutsy innings, including a maiden half-century to rescue his country from 4/39, the highlights around a first Test wicket and a couple of sharp catches.
He joins a growing list of late bloomers to don the Baggy Green – one which includes Scott Boland.
Debutant Beau Webster capped a strong match by hitting the winning runs.Credit: Getty
In an era in which fanfare follows emerging talent, Webster and Boland are testaments to how there is no replacement for hard work, and regardless of their age, they are a few strong performances from the international stage.
“It’s a great story really, the body of work he’s put in, in Shield cricket, to be rewarded with selection, and go out and perform the way he has,” Australia coach Andrew McDonald said.
“I’m just incredibly happy for him – you get your cap, you go out there and perform, you know you’re at that level, and it just shows Shield performances are a great connection into international level, which is good for our system as a whole.”
“It’s always nice to see guys have really long careers, consistently perform and then get rewarded,” Webster added.
“Scotty was a bit like me, we plugged away for quite a few years and did pretty well then got an opportunity. He’s gone on and looked every bit a Test cricketer, if not one of the best in the world.
“I’m hoping I can follow in those footsteps, he’s been world-class and if I can contribute while I’m in the team … it’ll be nice for however long it lasts.”
Beau Webster
However, there are some who irrespective of their form may be forced to spend their careers wondering what if, a case perhaps no more prominent than Jimmy Peirson’s.
The Queensland wicketkeeper has continued a theme of the state’s men behind the stumps who could have forged long Test careers, only to be beaten to the punch.
For Peirson, it is Alex Carey and Josh Inglis – who recovered from a calf injury in time to be named in the Test squad to Sri Lanka – much like it was Adam Gilchrist and Brad Haddin blocking Chris Hartley, and Gilchrist and Ian Healy who prevented Wade Seccombe from claiming a Baggy Green.
Peirson, 32, has scored seven centuries since November 2020 while averaging 37.84 in that time.
Yet the closest he has come to an Australia call up came as a squad inclusion – named as a touring wicketkeeper for the 2023 Ashes.
It is a position his Brisbane Heat teammate, Nathan McSweeney, sympathises with, but the recalled Test batsman declared if injury or a loss of form to either Carey or Inglis occurred, Peirson would be ready to assume the mantle.
“It’s a tough position to be in when there’s only one in the team,” McSweeney said.
“He’s a fantastic cricketer, and when there’s only one spot to fill it’s a pretty tough gig at times, so he’ll continue to do what he does and if an opportunity ever comes his way he’ll be more than ready for it.”
Speaking upon his return to the Test squad for the Sri Lanka tour, after being axed three matches into the India series, McSweeney declared he would join the fray a more resilient prospect to the man who endured a horror time against spearhead Jasprit Bumrah.
“I was playing really well at the start of that series, and came off some nice Shield scores, so I felt like I was more than ready. I didn’t quite get the success I would have liked, but there were definitely plenty of learnings,” McSweeney said, after averaging 14.40.
“It didn’t feel like I was out of my depth at all. I didn’t quite take my opportunity when I got my first three Tests … it’s a great challenge no doubt, but one I’ve planned for, and I’ll be ready.”
