Last Updated on 3 days by Charbel Coorey
One of the key questions surrounding the Australian team ahead of the Ashes is whether they can fit Cameron Green and Beau Webster in the same XI. There is the possibility that there is room for just one, and who should get the nod is cause for debate.
Green and Webster played in the World Test Championship Final and then in the West Indies. The former batted at three, and after a tough start, played some important knocks on tough pitches in the second-half of the Caribbean tour.
Allan Border on whether Australia should pick Cameron Green or Beau Webster
However, Allan Border believes there is room for just one of the all-rounders for the sake of team balance. Speaking on SENQ, the former captain prefers Webster given the contributions he has made since his Test debut against India in January. Also, Border remains unsure of Green as a number three in Tests.
“We can stick with him [Green], I’m just a bit concerned,” Border said, as quoted by SEN. They want him to bat at about number three and I don’t think his technique is suitable for that job. I can’t see him batting at three.
[Beau] Webster has done nothing wrong since they picked him and that all-round ability, particularly going into Perth, you might need a bit of backup to the quickies over there.
“I’d be locking him [Webster] in at number six and Green misses out in my first instance.”
Border said Australia can fit both in the team if Marnus Labuschagne is picked to open. However, he warned against picking players who aren’t specialist openers for the top of the order.
“If Labuschagne opens they could play Green and Webster and that wouldn’t be a bad scenario, but do they want to manufacture the openers?”, Border said.
In terms of candidates to open the batting, Jake Weatherald has made a strong start to the 2025/26 Sheffield Shield season after a brilliant 2024/25 campaign. The left-hander struck a superb 99-ball 94 in the classic against Western Australia on a green Hobart track, and his inclusion can complement Usman Khawaja well.
Other contenders include Matt Renshaw and Sam Konstas, although the latter needs to inspire confidence to retain his spot as Test opener. Border was particularly blunt regarding Konstas’ approach and “constantly trying to play this bloody ramp shot”.
