Australia all-rounder Beau Webster believes he has done enough to establish himself at Test level and is looking forward to the upcoming World Test Championship series against Bangladesh as another opportunity to strengthen his place in the side.
Webster made his Test debut at the start of last year and has played eight Tests since then. The 32-year-old has experienced both strong performances and periods out of the team as he looks to secure a regular place in Australia’s first-choice XI.
He was Australia’s leading scorer in the first innings of their defeat to South Africa in last year’s World Test Championship Final at Lord’s. Webster then contributed during Australia’s series against the West Indies, which they won 3-0.
However, he was left out for much of the Ashes series later in 2025, with Cameron Green, Josh Inglis and Usman Khawaja among those preferred by the selectors.
Webster returned for the final Ashes Test in Sydney and made an immediate impact, scoring an unbeaten 71 and taking three wickets. That performance has given him confidence ahead of a busy period that begins with two Tests against Bangladesh this month.
“The biggest thing I’ve learned (since making my debut) is that I’m good enough at this level,” Webster said on Tuesday.
“You never really know. The question in the lead-up to that first Test was, ‘do you feel ready?’, and although I was bluffing myself saying ‘absolutely’, at the end of the day you don’t really know until you get out there and face the bowlers from other countries and are put into situations with big crowds and big moments in games of cricket where you’re expected to perform. That was the biggest tick over the last 12 months.
“I forced my way into this team through weight of runs … primarily as a batter you deal in runs, and that’s been my way into the team and the way to stay in the team. What I’ve done in my first eight Tests with the bat has probably showed I can be considered a genuine top-six batter.”
Australia have 13 players in their squad for the two-Test series against Bangladesh, leaving selectors with several decisions to make over the final XI.
One of the key questions is whether Webster and fellow all-rounder Green can feature together. Webster believes the combination could give captain Pat Cummins more options with both bat and ball.
“I don’t see why not,” Webster said. “It’s surely more of a benefit to have more options in that top seven with the ball, and I certainly don’t see it as a direct competition. It only adds more option and more benefits for the captain if we’re both performing with the bat, with both of our main skill, and what we can offer in the field.
“I love playing with Cameron, I love having the options if he’s on with the ball or if I’m on with the ball, we can chop and change if the big three and the spinner need a chop-out. So I’m more than happy.
“I’m just happy doing my job and making myself hard to leave out of the 11, whether that’s with the bat or the ball. I pride myself on being able to contribute in all facets of the game, and so does he. It just so happens that we’re allrounders and both primarily batters.”
Australia Test squad for Bangladesh
Pat Cummins (capt), Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Jake Weatherald, Beau Webster.
