Beau Webster: Allrounder primed to have middle-order impact if called upon for Australian Test debut in SA

Beau Webster has modelled part of his game on emulating Mitch Marsh at Test level: A counter-attacking No.6 who can also be deadly with ball in hand.

Now, as he gets set to join the Australian Test squad, Webster is every chance of replacing rather than merely looking up to Marsh – and says he’s primed to take any opportunity with both hands.

Webster travels to Adelaide on Monday, a day after his 31st birthday, to link up with the national team in the wake of their disastrous West Test defeat at the hands of India.

The Aussies confirmed on Saturday that they’ll make at least one change to that side, with Josh Hazlewood ruled out with a side strain and Scott Boland his likely replacement.

But with Marsh’s fitness also in question, Webster revealed he’s most comfortable batting at the WA star’s No.6 spot in the order after finding his home in the middle order over his dominant past few Shieffield Shield campaigns for Tasmania.

“It’s where I’ve been batting the past three years and had the success in Shield cricket,” Webster said on ABC.

“It’s a bit of a counterpunch type of role. We’ve seen big ‘Bison’ (Marsh) do it brilliantly over the past couple of years – coming in while in some trouble and putting some pressure back on the bowlers, or if the top order have done the business, you can come in and apply some hurt late in the day.”

Having played with or against much of the current Aussie squad across his domestic career, Webster said he had no doubt he would quickly acclimatise to the group – and have an impact if called upon.

“I feel like I’m ready to go now,” he said.

“I feel like I’ve grown year on year with both bat and ball, and been able to string a couple of good years together consecutively and be quite consistent. That’s the thing I’m most proud of.

“I’m raring to go if I do get the tap.”