Cameron Green: The New Star of Australian Cricket Debuts in Adelaide
The 21-year-old all-rounder, Cameron Green, originally from Western Australia, is ready to make his debut for Australia at the Adelaide Oval. His first appearance is one of the most anticipated in recent times. Here are some details about him.
Highlighted Career
In first-class cricket, Green has proven to be exceptional. He has accumulated five centuries in 21 matches, including a career-high of 197 runs earlier this season against New South Wales. His batting average is 55.04. In a match against Queensland at the Gabba in November 2019, Green demonstrated his potential with the bat, scoring 87 and 121 runs not out, batting at positions 8 and 9. That was also the last match in which he bowled for a year. With the ball, he averages 21.72 runs for his 33 wickets, including 5 for 24 in his first-class debut against Tasmania, against whom he also took his best figures of 6 for 30 in 2018. Although he debuted in ODIs a couple of weeks ago, his white-ball career doesn’t stand out as much, with only nine matches in List A and T20. It is with the red (and pink) ball where he is generating great expectation.
Great Expectations
You could say so. Greg Chappell has called him “the best since Ricky Ponting” in recent interviews. Chappell selected him at number 6 in the test team.
“For me, Cameron Green is the next Australian cricket superstar,” he said. “He’s a real 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 uncommon talent. At 6 feet 7 inches, he could become something very special. I would put 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
The Fright Over the Recent Injury
It was a worrying moment when he was hit on the head by a Jasprit Bumrah delivery at the SCG. He retired from the field immediately and was replaced due to concussion, in addition to undergoing scans that ruled out fractures. Fortunately, the blow did not cause major damage and it seems that he will comply with all Cricket Australia protocols to be able to debut.
The All-Terrain Vehicle Dreamed of by Australia?
Maybe, but with caution. This has nothing to do with talent, but he has had restricted bowling loads 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 has so far 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 the ability to take wickets: he claimed 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 few more than that, once you’re selected in a Test match, you’re ready to play. Having said that, we don’t expect him to bowl a huge amount of overs with the attack we have.”
An Early Debut?
In a way, yes. In fact, just a few weeks ago it seemed unlikely that he would be part of the XI at the start 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 wicket keeper and four bowlers. However, recently, plans have been altered due to injuries to 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. That’s 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 selection based on his batting alone.
