'I pride myself on problem-solving' - Webster prepares for tough South Africa initiation

While JB Marks Oval was being tidied up on Thursday morning from the night before when the one-day series came to a damp and chilly conclusion, Australia started to focus on their Test preparations, but the major developments of the day were still a few hours away. Webster and Marnus Labuschagne were the only batters to have a hit on the outdoor nets deemed unsuitable to face pace.

While not having Green as a bowler would be a blow to Australia, particularly if conditions in Durban heavily favour spin and require them to look at the balance of the bowling attack, having him unable to feature at all would be even more significant given he was the best batter in an uncertain line-up against Bangladesh last month.

Webster, who was called into action as substitute fielder during the final ODI as Australia's resources were stretched thin, provides the visitors with another seam-bowling allrounder (and some under-rated offspin) with both he and Green featuring against Bangladesh in August. Webster had a lean series with scores of 12, 5 and 0 - and also sent down 15.2 wicketless overs - but he wasn't viewing any potential restrictions on Green's bowling capabilities as being a way to shore up his position in the side.

"We obviously want Cameron out at 100% capacity, he's fantastic and coming off a great series up in Darwin and Mackay, so hopefully he's here with all guns blazing," Webster said ahead of the two-day warm-up match in Potchefstroom over the weekend. "I'm just trying to get myself ready, and get myself at a point ready to go when we turn up to Durban in that first Test. Whether or not I play, it's not up to me, but I'm doing everything I can to be ready and make sure I can contribute."

"Obviously I would have liked some runs up there, no doubt, as anybody would have," he said. "When you play for Australia, you want to contribute and get big scores, and it wasn't to be for me. I had three hits and three failures, so that's the way the game goes.

"I still feel like I'm hitting the ball really well. I played a couple of one-dayers [for Tasmania] and saw the ball nicely, and felt like I'm moving well, so in a good spot there. Confidence is still high. I feel like I've got plenty to add to this group, and hopefully in these three Tests I can do well."

Webster made a debut half-century on a spiteful SCG surface against India in early 2025 followed by what remains his highest score of 72 in the World Test Championship final, against South Africa at Lord's, before back-to-back fifties in ball-dominated Tests against West Indies. He is opened-minded about the challenges that will present him on this tour having never played cricket in South Africa, his only previous experience of the continent being a T10 league in Zimbabwe.

"From a batting point of view, I'd definitely like a nice [pitch] where it's not seaming around too much, but it is what it is," he said. "I pride myself on a bit of problem-solving, I suppose, and being able to adapt. It does feel like I've played on some pretty tough wickets. I don't know what we're going to get over here. It would be nice to get some flat batting wickets, no doubt, but also you want a good contest from bat and ball."

Having not made his Test debut until the age of 31, Webster believes he is well placed to deal fluctuations of fortunes.

"I think the more experience you have, the better you deal with little speed bumps," he said. "That's what it was, I suppose, three hits and not many runs is a little speed bump. It's easy to start thinking that you're out of form or whatnot, but I look back to my winter in England [for Warwickshire] and probably my last Test [against England] before that, I had a really good one and contributed well with both bat and ball.

"So, just being able to stay nice and level-headed and make sure that you leave what's done as done in those three hits. I'm looking forward to getting out there."