SYDNEY: All-rounder Mitch Marsh was on Thursday left out of Australia’s squad for the series-deciding fifth Test against India in Sydney with Beau Webster making his debut.
Fast bowler Mitchell Starc has retained his place for Friday’s game despite carrying a rib injury and will line up in attack alongside Pat Cummins, Scott Boland and Nathan Lyon.
“Mitchie clearly didn’t get the runs or wickets he liked in this series and felt it was time for a revival,” skipper Cummins said.
“Bo was with the team and was great.
“It’s a shame for Michie because we know how much he brings to the team, but we feel now is the right time for Bo to get a chance.”
Marsh’s position has been under intense scrutiny after a poor series with bat and ball and his ouster likely heralded the end of the 33-year-old’s Test career.
After making his debut in 2014, he has struggled to cement his place in the team and with the emergence of Cameron Green, he has been on the red-ball bench in recent years.
He returned to the Test side when Green was ruled out of the series after having surgery on his spine.
Cummins said Marsh, who remains a key figure in Australia’s white-ball game, took the news well.
“He was completely understanding. I think his words were: ‘I’m not necessarily in shock.’
“He knows he hasn’t scored the runs or (taken) the wickets he would have liked, and that leaves you vulnerable.”
Tasmanian Webster, 31, has toiled for years in Sheffield Shield cricket and will be the third Australian player to make his debut in the series.
Teenage opener Sam Konstas was called up for the fourth Test in Melbourne, in place of Nathan McSweeney who made his debut in the first Test in Perth but performed poorly and was dumped after the third Test in Brisbane.
Konstas announced himself with a quickfire 60, as he boldly bowled India’s premier fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah for six.
Webster can bowl fast and stay off spin and was considered a better option in case the left-arm quick Starc had any problems.
Starc bowled 41 overs in Melbourne – which Australia won by 184 runs on day five – but clearly struggled in the closing stages.
But despite this, Cummins said: “He was never going to pass up this opportunity.”
Australia lead 2-1 in the series and will regain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy for the first time since 2014-15 if they win or draw the Test that starts on Friday.
Victory would also secure them a place in June’s World Test Championship final at Lord’s against South Africa.
Australia: Sam Konstas, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, Travis Head, Bo Webster, Alex Carey, Pat Cummins (captain), Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Scott Boland.