Cameron Green: The New Promise of Australian Cricket Debuts in Adelaide
The 21-year-old all-rounder, Cameron Green, originally from Western Australia, is ready to make his debut with the Australian national team at the Adelaide Oval. His arrival generates great anticipation, being one of the most anticipated debuts in recent times. Here are some details about him.
Highlighted Career
His first-class cricket career has been outstanding. With five centuries in 21 matches, including an impressive 197 as his personal best earlier this season against New South Wales, and a batting average of 55.04. In a match against Queensland at the Gabba in November 2019, he demonstrated his worth with the bat, scoring 87 and 121 not out, batting in positions 8 and 9. That 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 best mark of 6 for 30 in 2018. Although his career in one-day matches does not stand out as much, he made his ODI debut a couple of weeks ago, but has only played a few matches, nine in both List A and T20. It is with the red (and pink) ball that he is generating great enthusiasm.
Great Expectations
It can be said that yes. Greg Chappell has described him as “the best since Ricky Ponting” in recent interviews. Chappell selected him in the number 6 position in the test team.
“For me, Cameron Green is the next Australian cricket superstar,” Chappell said. “He’s a genuine prospect with the bat and ball, but I think his future is as a batsman who can offer some quality overs. Cameron is a batsman with unusual talent. At 6 feet 7 inches, he could become something very special. I would put him to bat 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
The Recent Concern about the Injury
It was a complicated moment when he received a blow to the head from a Jasprit Bumrah delivery at the SCG. He immediately left the field and was substituted, suffering a concussion. Fortunately, the blow did not cause major damage (unlike Will Pucovski, Green has no history of concussions) and it seems that he will pass all Cricket Australia protocols to be able to debut.
Is it the All-Terrain Vehicle that Australia Needs?
Perhaps, but with caution. This has nothing to do with his talent, but he has had restrictions on his release due to a stress fracture in his back that he suffered last year. He has worked on his action with WA bowling coach Matt Mason, and so far he 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 continues to demonstrate his ability to take wickets: he took two in the second innings against the Indians at Drummoyne Oval and produced a beauty to dismiss Shubman Gill before his injury at the SCG.
Tim Paine also suggested that the bowling restrictions will be eased. “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.”
Did Their Debut Arrive Sooner Than Expected?
In a way, yes. A few weeks ago, it seemed unlikely that he would be in the starting eleven at the beginning of the series, despite having been named in the extended squad. The preferred route was for Australia to maintain its traditional balance of six batsmen, a wicketkeeper and four bowlers. However, recently, plans have been altered due to the injuries of Warner and Pucovksi, which has led Australia to reorganize the batting order (at least for one test) and that has created the opening at number 6. This is not to say that Green doesn’t deserve it. Based on his current form, it could easily be said that he is among Australia’s top six batsmen, and Justin Langer and national selector Trevor Hohns have said that he is worthy of being selected just for his batting.
