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Webster Debuts as Australia Faces India at SCG

Australia has announced its playing XI for the crucial fifth Test against India at the Sydney Cricket Ground. Beau Webster is set to make his Test debut, replacing the struggling Mitch Marsh, who has had a disappointing series with only 73 runs at an average of 10.42. Webster's selection comes on the back of impressive first-class performances, where he has averaged 57.10 with the bat and taken 81 wickets since March 2022.

The Australian lineup features Sam Konstas, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, Travis Head, Beau Webster, Alex Carey as wicketkeeper, and bowlers Pat Cummins, Mitch Starc, Nathan Lyon, and Scott Boland. Despite carrying a rib niggle, Mitchell Starc is determined to play, emphasizing the importance of this decisive match. With the series currently standing at 2-1 in favor of Australia, a victory would secure their place in the World Test Championship final against South Africa in June.

On the Indian side, there are concerns regarding captain Rohit Sharma's fitness, as he participated minimally in the training session before the match. Coach Gautam Gambhir has not confirmed Sharma's availability, and if he is unable to play, Jasprit Bumrah may step in as captain. Sharma's recent form has been poor, failing to exceed 10 runs in his last five innings. Additionally, Akash Deep will miss the final Test due to a back issue, while Shubman Gill is in contention for a return to the squad.

The series has seen a mix of results, with India winning the first Test by a significant margin, Australia claiming the second Test, a drawn third Test, and Australia winning the fourth Test convincingly. Scott Boland's strategy of having wicketkeeper Alex Carey positioned close to the stumps to disrupt India's opener Yashasvi Jaiswal has been a focal point of discussion, showcasing the tactical maneuvers employed by the Australian team.

Pat Cummins has achieved a career-high ranking as a Test allrounder, now sitting third in the ICC rankings following his strong performance in the Boxing Day Test. Steve Smith has also made strides in the batting rankings, moving up to seventh place after scoring 140 against India.

#Cricket,#Australia,#India,#TestSeries,#BeauWebster


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