Webster forced to wait for Shield record

Tasmania Beau Webster has been forced to wait to create a slice of Sheffield Shield history after Sam Rainbird twice denied the allrounder a record-breaking 24th catch for the season with no balls.

Having pouched three catches in Victoria's first innings, Webster took his Shield season tally to 23 but remarkably had two more catches discounted due to Rainbird overstepping.

The first non-wicket came off tailender Scott Boland in Victoria's first innings, with Tasmania's celebrations muted as the umpire signalled the no-ball before Webster had taken the catch.

In almost identical circumstances a day later, Webster again took a catch off Rainbird – this time off Seb Gotch – with the left-armer again signalled for a no-ball. The following ball, Gotch edged again but this time to first slip Alex Doolan. 

Webster has drawn level with three players who jointly hold the Shield record for most catches by a non-wicketkeeper. Former Test batsman Craig Serjeant set the mark of 23 in 1981-82, Victoria's Jamie Siddons matched it in '90-91 and before ex-Western Australia skipper Adam Voges equalled it again in '08-09.

All but one of Webster's catches this season have come at second slip. He took the other, off a Callum Ferguson miscue in November, at gully.

The 24-year-old also eclipsed former Tigers captain Dan Marsh's Tasmanian record of 21 catches in a Shield season on day two in Hobart.

Tasmania guaranteed their spot in next week's JLT Sheffield Shield final with a 156-run victory over Victoria, meaning Webster will have another match to set a new record.

Webster said last week that he couldn't recall dropping any catches this season, but concedes he may have a missed a chance or two from flashing cut shots that were in his reach. Given he stands at 200cm tall, that reach extends much further than most other slips fielders.

He credited Redbacks batter Tom Cooper, who set a new South Australian record by pouching 22 catches last Shield season, with making him aware of the overall record.

"I didn't know until I spoke to 'Coops' after the game against South Australia just gone by," Webster told cricket.com.au.

"Then after the game against Queensland where I took six (catches) for the match, someone asked, 'Are you close to Marshy's record of 21 for Tassie?' I said, 'Actually yeah, I must be close'."

Many are quick to point out that records like these are more a reflection of a team's bowling skill than a fielder's ability, a fact Webster was quick to acknowledge in praising the likes of Sam Rainbird, Tom Rogers and Jackson Bird who have all taken more than 30 wickets this season.

But he also points to the introduction of the Dukes ball for the second half of the Shield season as a key factor in his catching spree.

Webster believes the extra swing, both in terms of how far the ball shifts in the air and the length of time during an innings that it keeps moving for, means edges that might ordinarily go to the wicketkeeper or first slip with a Kookaburra ball have instead been coming his way.

"It just seems with the Dukes ball, the bigger they swing, the squarer they seem to go," he explained.

"Wadey (keeper Matthew Wade) has taken a fair few, Alex Doolan at first slip has got a couple as well, but the majority seem to be coming to second.

"Especially with the Dukes ball, with the extra swing, they just seem to be coming more regularly.

"The bigger the swing – especially up at the Gabba where I took a lot of catches – the majority of those went to second slip. Then at Bellerive with a bit in the wicket, the Dukes balls bring you into the game more behind the wicket.

"You've got to be more switched on throughout the whole game (in the slips) as opposed to the Kookaburra where there can be some dull moments in the game, there are periods where you might only have one slip in.

"But with the Dukes ball you feel like you're a chance to get a catch most deliveries."