Webster in? What selectors have told Ashes hopeful

Ashes hopeful Beau Webster has moved to ease concerns over his recent injury setback as he looks to secure the number 6 spot in the Australia squad for the Perth Test.

Webster missed the start of the Sheffield Shield season due to an ankle concern with state and national selectors telling him to take no unnecessary risks in the weeks leading into the November 21 opener against England.

The Test all rounder is not short of time on the field having played through the winter months in England, but he is acutely aware that there are no guarantees when it comes to getting the nod.

“It doesn’t feel like I have had a long lay off having played through winter,” he said on SEN Tassie.

“I’m in a good spot, I have had good comms with selectors about when I can play. I will put my case forward to be in Perth but it’s a juggling act to make sure these injuries don’t turn into something else by rushing back.

“Selectors telling me to get healthy. The message has been ‘get it right’. I think the worst thing I could do is rush back and turn up to Perth with a grumpy ankle.”

Webster made his Test debut earlier this year in the final match of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy where he made a half century and has been a regular in the side ever since.

He scored a half-century in the World Test Championship final at Lord’s and two half-centuries in the West Indies where Australia’s openers really struggled for runs.

However, there are no guarantees for the Ashes with selectors expected to give Cam Green the nod as all-rounder, shuffling him down from No 3 to 6 which would likely rule Webster out.

Marnus Labuschagne’s return to prolific form will also present a scenario where Webster misses out.

Not one to be ruffled by predictions and speculation, Webster is hopeful he has done enough to make a childhood dream a reality.

“I haven’t nailed down a number 6, but I hope I’d done enough to show I belong at that level, and I can help Australia win the Ashes,” he continued.

“I’m under no illusion of where I’m at. When I play my best, I deserve to be in that Australia team. How we line up in Perth is out of my hands.

“I know where I am at and I know what I can do.

“I don’t get caught up in people putting predicted teams out. I don’t turn my phone off because of the noise. I know my game and at my best I’m giving myself the best chance to succeed.

“The Ashes is the pinnacle of Test cricket. I said to my old man a few weeks ago, ‘can you believe I’m in contention to pay an Ashes’?

“To be in the conversation of playing is a huge proud moment if I get there. I can help Australia win the Ashes; it is surreal. It’s exciting first and foremost.”

SEN will have live coverage of the ODIs from this Sunday.