Australia Shakes Up XI for Final Test Against India, Beau Webster to Make Debut

Australia has made a major change to their lineup for the fifth and final Test against India, as Mitchell Marsh makes way for Tasmanian allrounder Beau Webster. The swap comes as captain Pat Cummins confirmed the fitness of pace bowler Mitchell Starc, ending speculation over his availability.

The decision to drop Marsh has been attributed to his poor form with both bat and ball in the series, having failed to score a double-digit return in his last five visits to the crease and bowled just 33 overs. Webster, on the other hand, has been in impressive form in the Sheffield Shield and Australia A matches, averaging 57.1 with the bat and taking 81 wickets at 31.7 with the ball. The addition of Webster brings a fresh dynamic to the team, with Cummins describing the move as a "freshening up" for Marsh, with the opportunity to return to the team if he improves his batting.

Starc, who had been a major concern due to rib soreness during the Boxing Day Test, has been cleared to continue, and will be part of the Australian XI for the fifth Test. The team also has Cam Green and other bowlers in the mix, bringing diversity to the bowling options. Cummins praised Webster's skills, highlighting his ability to change the game and his impressive performances in Tasmania and Australia A matches. The Australian XI for the fifth Test includes Sam Robson, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Steven Smith, Travis Head, Beau Webster, Alex Carey, Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, and Scott Boland.

The fifth Test is set to begin on January 3 at the Sydney Cricket Ground, with the Australians looking to break their four-match losing streak in the series. With Webster making his Test debut, the team is looking to inject some fresh energy into their campaign, and the match will be a closely watched event in the cricket world.