ESPNcricinfo Awards 2025 men's debutant of the year: Beau's coup

A tall, seam-bowling allrounder, Webster did not produce earth-shattering numbers in his first year in Test cricket. But even the great Garry Sobers had a similar batting average (35.88) and a worse bowling average (29.40) after seven Tests. Jacques Kallis' start was not a whole lot different either: after seven Tests, his batting and bowling averages were 23.40 and 25.28, respectively. This is not to say that Webster is the next Sobers or Kallis, but that sometimes allrounders take a while to settle into their roles.

If you peel back the numbers, Webster's impact becomes evident. A late bloomer, he made his Test debut at 31 and in his very first Test, a series decider against India in Sydney, his decade-long experience in first-class cricket was in evidence in his crucial 57. A few months later, in the World Test Championship final against South Africa at Lord's, he walked in at 67 for 4 and scored 72. On both occasions, he was the top scorer in the innings. His other two half-centuries, against West Indies, also came in tough situations; there he was within three runs of the top scorer in the innings.

As a bowler, Webster is versatile. On his debut, he had Shubman Gill caught behind with a seam-up delivery that nipped back to take the inside edge. Against Sri Lanka, on a turning track in Galle, he switched to offspin and used flight and turn to take two wickets. When it comes to slip fielding, he is among the best in Australia, and has already held 12 catches.

In his debut Test, a match where neither team crossed 200, Webster's 57 in Australia's first innings revived them from 39 for 4. In the second innings, his quick 39 not out sealed a tricky chase and helped Australia reclaim the Border-Gavaskar Trophy for the first time since 2014-15.

3 Australia players with 300 runs, eight wickets and ten catches in their first seven Tests. Webster joined Jack Gregory and Mark Waugh.

4 Scores of 50-plus by Webster, the joint-most - along with Ravindra Jadeja - by a No. 6 batter in Tests in 2025.

"He seems to always contribute in some way. He has kind of knocked down the door with his performances over the years in Shield cricket. It's great when you've got someone like that coming to the team - they know their craft so well... He's been a fantastic asset to the team over the last six months."
- Pat Cummins after the first Test against West Indies in Bridgetown

"We're getting an Australian Test cricketer who will deliver with bat and ball, can bowl spin and seam, and is a quality fielder. As allrounders go, you couldn't have anyone better and more versatile."
- Warwickshire coach Ian Westwood

Lhuan-dre Pretorius
Tests: 235 runs at 78.33 (3 innings)
ODIs: 142 runs at 47.33 (3 innings)
T20Is: 201 runs at 128 SR (13 innings)
The South Africa wicketkeeper-batter made his international debut in all three formats in 2025. He started his Test career with 153 against Zimbabwe in Bulawayo. At 19 years and 93 days, he was the youngest to get to 150 in men's Tests. He followed that up with 78 in the next Test. On his ODI debut, he opened the innings with his idol Quinton de Kock and scored 57. He was out for a first-ball duck on his T20I debut but bounced back with 27 off 17 balls in the next match. Three games later, he scored his maiden T20I fifty.