Beau Webster Eyes ODI Future as He Returns to White-Ball Cricket
Australia allrounder Beau Webster is hopeful that a strong domestic one-day season with Tasmania can help reignite his white-ball career and potentially earn him a place in Australia’s ODI setup ahead of the 2027 World Cup.
The 31-year-old, who has focused heavily on red-ball cricket over the past year — including County Championship, Sheffield Shield, and Test appearances — admits white-ball formats have taken a backseat. However, with Australia's ODI side undergoing transition, Webster sees an opportunity to push for national honours.
“I'd love to play white-ball cricket for Australia,” Webster told ESPNcricinfo. “Probably more so one-day cricket than T20 at this stage. It just feels a bit like I haven't played it for a long time. I’ve hardly hit a white ball in the past 12 months.”
Webster will begin his One-Day Cup campaign with Tasmania this week against New South Wales in Sydney, followed by a clash with Victoria in Brisbane, as the Tigers gear up for a busy domestic season.
While his List A numbers with the bat — an average of 30.31 and a strike rate of 77.10 — remain modest, Webster has shown flashes of brilliance with the ball. Last season, he picked up 16 wickets at just 9.56, including a career-best 6 for 17 against Western Australia at the WACA, where he triggered an astonishing collapse of 8 for 1.
ODI World Cup 2027 on the Horizon
The next men’s 50-over World Cup is scheduled for October-November 2027 in South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia. With conditions that may favour brisk seam bowling and strong batting against pace, Webster’s all-round capabilities could offer a valuable asset to selectors.
“I think if you're scoring runs and taking wickets in Test cricket, you're always going to be seen as an option,” he said. “There are a lot of transferable skills across formats. I hope I’m in the conversation if I can continue to perform for Tasmania and at Test level.”
Australia's ODI team is in a transitional phase, particularly in the middle order following the retirements of Steven Smith and Glenn Maxwell. Aaron Hardie has yet to cement his spot, and Webster’s Tasmania teammate Mitchell Owen was ruled out of recent ODIs due to concussion. This has opened the door for new contenders, and Webster is eager to seize the moment.
Balancing Formats and Fitness
Webster also hopes to play a full domestic season across both formats. He is aiming to feature in all of Tasmania’s early Sheffield Shield fixtures before the Ashes begins, though he acknowledged that his bowling workload may be managed as the season progresses.
“I think I'll try and definitely play all four [Shield matches] and get Tassie off to a good start,” he said. “The bowling side of things might need managing if I bowl too much, but I’ll be around for all four games.”
BBL Return with Hobart Hurricanes
On the T20 front, Webster has rejoined the Hobart Hurricanes, defending champions of the Big Bash League. However, his participation in the BBL may be limited depending on his involvement in the Ashes series.
“It’s going to be a hard-fought top six to get into,” he said. “We’ve kept most of the title-winning squad and Bellerive is a great place to bat. Hopefully I’ll be part of the Ashes for all five Tests and then return to the Hurricanes if needed.”
While red-ball cricket remains his current priority, Webster’s eye is firmly on a broader goal: becoming a multi-format player for Australia. His performances in the upcoming One-Day Cup could play a key role in determining whether he’s part of Australia’s plans for the 2027 World Cup.