Follow UsBeau Webster started off his Test career with a fine fifty against India in Sydney in January as he grabbed his opportunity with both hands in the absence of Cameron Green (injured) and Mitchell Marsh (dropped).
He grabbed his opportunity once again, this time in Sri Lanka, where Webster, a pace-bowling all-rounder, turned to off-spin to pick up a wicket, that too in his very first over.
He got the wicket of Ramesh Mendis off just his fifth delivery, caught by Travis Head at forward short-leg. Mendis got a good stride in, but the bat turned in his hand upon contact, and Head completed a fairly straightforward catch.
It is not new for pacers to bowl spin when the situation arises. Recently, we saw England's Chris Woakes turn to spin against Sri Lanka at the Oval due to fading lights. However, that was not the case in Galle as skipper Steven Smith pulled a rabbit out of the hat to give Webster a chance to bowl a bit of off-spin and that did the trick.
Webster did not bowl in the first Test in Galle but scored 23 off 50 as Australia put on over 650 and went on to win by an innings. In the ongoing Test, he scored 31 in Australia's 414.
Sri Lanka ended Day Two 54 runs ahead but had just two wickets in hand. Australia have a superb chance to register their first series win in Sri Lanka since 2011.