Webster happy to scrap for Ashes spot with Green's return to bowling on track

Beau Webster is ready to have to prove himself all over again in a bid to secure a spot in Australia's side for the Ashes, despite having produced a collection of vital innings early in his Test career.

Webster has scored four half-centuries in seven Tests, starting with a critical one on debut against India at the SCG, where Australia clinched the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. He followed that by being the team's top-scorer in the World Test Championship final against South Africa at Lord's, and by making fifties in Barbados and Grenada in very tough conditions against West Indies. Alongside the runs, Webster has claimed eight wickets with the ball, and added strength to Australia's slip cordon.

However, despite those strong returns, there is a world where he sees himself squeezed out of the Test XI by the time England arrive for the Ashes. That could happen if Cameron Green's return to bowling remains on track, and the selectors decide to move Green back down the order rather than keep him at No. 3, where he finished strongly in the West Indies.

"When you're at the top level, you're fighting to hang on to your spot," Webster told reporters in Hobart, having returned from a county stint with Warwickshire, for whom he played two more matches in this season's County Championship after the West Indies tour.

"With all the wonderful cricketers around the country, and especially a guy like Cameron Green, he batted at the top of the order [in the West Indies], and didn't bowl. He's obviously going to be back bowling this summer, which is going to put a bit more pressure on my spot at No. 6 as the allrounder. But I welcome it.

"I feel like I've been in this position before a lot in my career, where I've got to score runs to either go to the next level or stay on the team. It's certainly not unfamiliar. I'm looking forward to once again showing what I can do at [Sheffield] Shield level, and hopefully, be lining up in that first Ashes Test in Perth. It's going to be a massive summer. I'm sure the team's going to change a little bit throughout those five Tests. I'm just going to do everything I can to make sure I'm there for all five."

There is plenty to play out before the Test squad is selected, and then a final XI determined for the opening Ashes game on November 21. Moving Green back down the order would need two top-order players to make a compelling case for selection, given there is a likely vacancy as an opener alongside Usman Khawaja after Sam Konstas' struggles against West Indies.

Webster could play four Sheffield Shield matches before the opening Test - Australia's squad is expected to be named after round three - and if he picks up the form that propelled him into the Australia set-up in the first place, it will leave the selectors with some tough decisions about whether they can fit two allrounders in the XI.

"It's going to be an intriguing first couple of rounds with potentially all the big boys playing a few of the Shield games, too," Webster said. "There's going to be some really strong Shield teams out there, which only promotes better cricket. So it's going to be exciting for our boys to line up against a number of Test cricketers in the first couple of rounds as well.

"It's always exciting when the team's not quite settled, and there's a few opportunities for people to put their hand up and try and get a spot in that first squad."

Webster's only regret from his Test career so far is that none of his half-centuries have been converted into three figures, even though the runs he has scored have often been worth more given the conditions.

"I feel like I've scored some tough runs," he said. "At the same time, there's no hundred next to my name, which I would have loved to go on with one of those [half-centuries]. I felt like I was batting as good as I have done in a number of those innings. I feel like I've got all the tools to succeed this summer in the Ashes with what England are going to potentially bring."