Cameron Green: Star All-rounder to Debut with Australia

Cameron Green, the 21-year-old all-rounder from Western Australia, is set to debut for Australia at the Adelaide Oval. His anticipated first appearance has generated great expectation in the cricket world.

Highlighted Career

In first-class cricket, Green has demonstrated outstanding performance. He has accumulated five centuries in 21 matches, including an impressive 197, his personal best, achieved earlier this season against New South Wales. His batting average is 55.04. In a match against Queensland at the Gabba in November 2019, he proved his worth with the bat, scoring 87 and 121, not out, batting in positions 8 and 9. This was also the last match in which he bowled for a year. With the ball, he averages 21.72 with 33 wickets, including 5 for 24 in his first-class debut against Tasmania, a team against which he also achieved his personal best of 6 for 30 in 2018. Although his career in one-day matches does not stand out as much, his ODI debut a few weeks ago has generated enthusiasm, but with few matches played, nine in List A and T20. It is with the red (and pink) ball that he is captivating everyone.

Expectations and Praise

Expectations are high. Greg Chappell has called him “the best since Ricky Ponting” in recent interviews. In June, Chappell selected him at number 6 in the test team.

For me, Cameron Green is the next Australian cricket superstar. He is a genuine prospect with the bat and ball, but I think his future lies in being a batsman who can offer some quality overs. Cameron is a batsman with uncommon talent. At 6 feet 7 inches, he could become something very special. I would bat him at number 6 to start, but I think number 4 is his long-term position. The sooner he plays at this level, the sooner he will become the player he should be.

Greg Chappell

Recent scare due to injury

A worrying moment was when he received a blow to the head from a Jasprit Bumrah drive at the SCG. He was taken off the field with a concussion and underwent scans that ruled out fractures. Fortunately, the blow did not cause major damage and it seems he will be able to comply with Cricket Australia’s protocols for his debut.

The all-terrain vehicle that Australia dreamed of?

Perhaps, but with caution. This has nothing to do with his talent, but with the restrictions on his release due to a stress fracture in his back suffered last year. He has worked on his action with WA bowling coach Matt Mason, and has been limited to four-over spells. This season he has not bowled more than eight overs in a day in match conditions. However, he has shown his ability to take wickets. Tim Paine suggested that the bowling restrictions will be relaxed. “I think he’ll bowl a little bit more than that, once you’re selected in a Test match, you’re ready to play. That said, we don’t expect him to bowl a huge amount of overs with the attack we have.”

An unexpected debut?

In a way, yes. A few weeks ago, it seemed unlikely that he would be part of the XI at the start of the series, despite having been included in the extended squad. The preferred route was for Australia to maintain its traditional balance of six batsmen, a wicketkeeper, and four bowlers. However, injuries to Warner and Pucovksi have altered the plans, leading Australia to reorganize the batting order (at least for one test) and creating an opportunity at the number 6 position. This is not to say that Green doesn’t deserve it. Based on his current form, he could easily be considered one of Australia’s top six batsmen.