Axed Test allrounder Beau Webster looked set and assured as he set about pushing for an Australian recall, only to fall in unlikely circumstances as stumps neared.
As bad light began to intervene, briefly forcing Tasmania and Queensland off the field on day two of their Sheffield Shield clash at the Gabba, the Bulls turned to the leg spin duo of Mitchell Swepson and skipper Marnus Labuschagne to ensure play continued.
After surviving some nervy moments early in his innings against the returning Michael Neser – who claimed figures of 2/35 in his first competitive hit-out since March due to touring commitments and a calf issue – Webster appeared to come into his own; driving well on his way to a measured 54.
Yet as he faced up to Labuschagne, himself on the Test periphery after being informed he would not be considered for the forthcoming series against New Zealand, the 32-year-old only succeeded in nicking off to Cameron Gannon at first slip.
Labuschagne backed that up when he caught and bowled left-arm spinner Matt Kuhnemann for six, and Gabe Bell caught behind, in the same over; his figures of 3/6 spearheading the Tigers’ collapse to be all out for 133 – still 195 runs shy of the Bulls’ first innings of 348.
“Apparently he’s been bowling a fair bit of it [leg spin] in South Africa getting ready for potentially having to do it over there if the South Africans had spinning conditions, which they did for the last Test,” Queensland coach and former Australian all-rounder James Hopes said.
“He’s sneakily a very good leg spinner; I’ve always thought that, I’ve always thought he was a very good short-form leg spinner and was probably underused in some of the teams he plays in.”
The celebrations from Labuschagne when he clinched Webster’s wicket in particular were jubilant, and had a radiating effect around the Gabba that was infectious. Hopes felt that now the former world No.1 Test batsman had clarity around his immediate future, the Labuschagne of old would soon return with the bat, having scored just 12 on day one.
“I know Marn well; you’re seeing it at training when he’s batting, you’re seeing some of the stuff that you used to see all the time starting to come out again. It’s just not translating to big runs in the middle at the moment,” Hopes said.
“I’m sure with the Australian team giving him some clear air to come back and play Shield cricket for a while … I’m sure somewhere in these Shield games he’ll get some big runs.”
While it was a valiant half-century from Webster given the way his teammates capitulated around him, it may not be enough to force his way back into Australia’s best XI.
The Tasmanian, who also took the wicket of Queensland opener Angus Lovell on day one to finish with figures of 1/54, had been dropped in favour of Cooper Connolly for the third Test in South Africa, after a string of failures brought his promising start in international cricket to an end.
His 81 runs across his past four appearances in the Baggy Green (averaging 13.5), while also claiming just one wicket, has left his future in the national fold in doubt, while Connolly’s inclusion for the summer’s campaign is no guarantee after scores of 29 and 0 against the Proteas.
Batsmen across the country have been striving to push their credentials, with five-Test opener Sam Konstas peeling off an unbeaten second innings 109 for New South Wales against South Australia.
It marked the 21-year-old’s second Shield century of the 2026-27 campaign, having also struck a one-day ton since returning from the Australia A tour in India.
Jack Clayton – who has struck a century and three half-centuries for Queensland to average 71 for the competition – is another in-form contender, however Kuhnemann felt Webster should not be discounted.
“He batted beautifully, he’s been batting beautifully for a while now, especially in South Africa in the nets. Bowling to him in that last Test, he was batting magnificently,” Kuhnemann said, having taken 4/81 with the ball in his first Shield appearance of the season after touring with the Australian side in South Africa as the reserve tweaker.
“He would have liked to have got a hundred there, but he received a nice ball.”
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