Australian coach Andrew McDonald says Beau Webster has put his best foot forward for selection on the tour of Sri Lanka after an impressive start to his Test debut against India.
The 31-year-old allrounder top-scored for Australia in his first innings with the bat, his 57 runs helping revitalise the hosts after they slipped to 4-39 early on day two of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy's decisive fifth Test.
The end was nigh for Pat Cummins' side after Webster was caught behind from Prasidh Krishna (3-42), the side all out for 181 in reply to 185 a little more than three overs later.
After returning solid figures of 0-29 from 13 overs in the first innings, Webster snared his first Test wicket in a hectic final session on day two, when India (6-141) returned to the crease.
Webster (1-24) was exultant and swamped by teammates after new No.3 Shubman Gill mistimed his slog and edged to Alex Carey behind the stumps.
Webster could have had a second wicket had Steve Smith held onto a diving chance on Ravindra Jadeja in the penultimate over of the day.
In the first innings, the towering debutant had taken two low catches in the slips cordon to help Scott Boland to the second-best figures of his Test career (4-31).
"I'm just incredibly happy for him," McDonald said at stumps on day two.
"It's a great story, really, the body of work he's put together in Shield cricket, to be rewarded with selection and then to go out and perform the way he has."
Webster now looks likely to add to his Test caps on the two-match tour of Sri Lanka, which first-choice allrounder Cameron Green will again miss through injury.
An announcement on the Test team is expected in the days after the SCG Test finishes, given the first Test begins in Galle on January 29.
"There's a discussion coming up," McDonald said when asked of Webster's selection chances.
"(Chief selector) George Bailey will sit down and look at that Sri Lankan squad at the end of this Test match and there'll be a quick turnaround to the announcement.
"He's put his best foot forward. Our angle is that he's up to the level, we wouldn't have picked him if he wasn't.
"It gives us another allround option.
"To have depth in that area bodes well for us as a team and for Beau also."
Webster, the reigning Sheffield Shield player of the year, will look to Boland as proof that there are opportunities for late bloomers who make the most of their chances.
At 32, Boland was even older than Webster when he first played Test cricket, bursting onto the scene with an unforgettable performance against England at the MCG three summers ago.
He is now Australia's leading replacement pace option, and has been the side's best player this Test.
"I'm hoping I can follow in those footsteps, that would be nice," Wesbter said after day one.
"He's been world class and if I can just contribute while I'm in the team with some catching, some wickets and hopefully some runs, it'd be a nice way for however long it lasts."
