Ponting lauds Webster's resilience on opening day of WTC25 Final
ICC Hall of Famer Ricky Ponting has heaped praise on Aussie all-rounder Beau Webster, who came to the rescue in Australia’s first innings of the WTC25 Final.
“He just looked completely ready.”
Those were the words of Aussie great Ricky Ponting, referring to fellow Tasmanian Beau Webster making the step up to Test cricket.
And ‘ready’ is exactly the word that sums up what Webster has displayed in his limited Test career so far, having been tasked with making critical runs under intense pressure more than once already.
The towering all-rounder made his Test debut in a pressure cooker series-deciding Test in Sydney against India at the start of this year, scoring a crucial 57 in his maiden innings in the format, coming to the crease with his side in all sorts at 39/4, still 146 runs behind and facing a large first innings deficit. The knock helped Australia scratch and claw their way to a first innings score of 181, helping the hosts set up an opportunity to grind out a tough victory over the Indians.
And under the bright lights of the Ultimate Test, at Lord’s no less, Webster did it again. In what is just his fourth Test, the 31-year-old negotiated a tough early period, and compiled a gutsy 72 off 92 balls, top scoring for Australia and ensuring his side posted a competitive total of 212 runs on a tricky deck against world-class bowling.
The performance has earned high profile praise.
“You take those 70 odd runs out, that scorecard looks a whole lot different,” Ricky Ponting told ICC Digital after Australia’s first innings.
“I think that says a lot about how comfortable he is in his own game right now and even the comfort he has of being in the Australian middle order.
“The thing I liked about that today was, although Australia were in a little bit of trouble, wickets were falling… (Webster) was able to go out there and maintain his own natural style of play and play the way that he wanted to play and try and be aggressive and try and put some pressure back on the South African bowlers.”
Webster’s 72 led the way for Australia, with Steve Smith also contributing with a hard-fought 66 in just under three hours at the crease.
Keeper Alex Carey was the next highest scorer with 23 runs, as South Africa cleaned up the tail to make a day one statement. The Proteas were led by Kagiso Rabada’s 5/51, which included the eventual dismissal of Webster.
“The other thing (is that) although the wicket was doing something and we know the Dukes ball will do something early June in the UK, it just goes to show that if you do get in and get set like Smith and and Beau did that regardless of the conditions you can still make some big scores,” Ponting continued.
Australia fought back valiantly in the final session of the Ultimate Test’s opening day, taking four wickets to prove just how tough conditions were for batters.
The Proteas, who won the toss and opted to bowl first, were 43/4 at stumps, now facing a similar assignment to the one that Australia faced – and ultimately dug their way out of – when action resumes at the top of day two.
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