Australia revealed their playing XI for the fifth and final Border-Gavaskar Trophy clash against India, set to take place at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) from January 3, 2025.
The Australian team made significant changes for the crucial showdown, dropping star player Mitchell Marsh and replacing him with Tasmanian all-rounder Beau Webster, who will make his debut in Sydney.
In a positive development, Australian captain Pat Cummins confirmed that their premier pacer, Mitchell Starc, has been declared fit to play the final Test.
Starc, who had been battling a back issue, showed remarkable resilience in the Boxing Day Test, where he bowled 16 overs in the second innings without any noticeable dip in pace.
Although he took just one wicket, Australia clinched a commanding 184-run victory over India, leading the five-match series 2-1.
Beau Webster, who steps in for Mitchell Marsh, brings a strong domestic record to the squad.
Last season, he was the leading run-scorer in the Sheffield Shield, amassing 938 runs.
His recent performance in one-day cricket against Western Australia was equally impressive, taking six wickets for just 17 runs.
The decision to drop Mitchell Marsh came after a string of disappointing performances.
Marsh struggled throughout the series, scoring just 73 runs in four Tests at a meager average of 10.42. His bowling contributions were also inconsistent, prompting selectors to opt for a fresh face in Webster.
“We’ve made one change. ‘Marshy’ misses out, and Beau Webster is debuting. Mitchy hasn’t quite got the runs or wickets that perhaps he would have liked in this series. It felt like it was time for a freshen-up, and Beau has been with the squad and has been great. It’s a shame for Mitchy because we know how much he brings to the team, but we felt now’s a good week for Beau to get a chance,” Cummins said during the pre-match press conference on January 2.
With the series currently at 2-1 in Australia's favour, the hosts are determined to secure a win in the final Test.
A victory in this match would guarantee their place in the World Test Championship (WTC) 2023-25 final.
Even if Australia loses 2-0 in the upcoming series against Sri Lanka, they will still finish with 57.02 points, securing their spot in the WTC final.
Meanwhile, South Africa became the first team to qualify for the final, following their recent Test victory over Pakistan.
Australia's playing XI for fifth Test against India:
Sam Konstas, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, Travis Head, Beau Webster, Alex Carey (WK), Pat Cummins (C), Mitch Starc, Nathan Lyon, Scott Boland.
