Cameron Green: The Australian Promise Debuts in Test Cricket

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 for Australia at the Adelaide Oval. His first appearance is one of the most anticipated in recent times. Here are some details about this promising player.

Highlighted Career

In first-class cricket, Green has shown exceptional performance. 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, he demonstrated his ability 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. His career in the white-ball format does not stand out as much, although he debuted in ODIs a couple of weeks ago, but he 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 expectation.

Great Expectations

Expectations are high. Greg Chappell has called him “the best since Ricky Ponting” in recent interviews. Chappell selected him in the number 6 position of the Test team, saying: “For me, Cameron Green is the next Australian cricket superstar. He is a genuine promise 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 exceptional talent. At 6 feet 7 inches, he could become something very special. I would place 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.”

Concern Regarding the Recent Injury

There was a worrying moment when he was hit on the head by a Jasprit Bumrah bouncer at the SCG. He immediately left the field and was substituted from the match due to concussion, in addition to undergoing scans that ruled out any fractures. Fortunately, the blow did not cause major damage and it seems he will comply with Cricket Australia’s protocols to be able to debut.

The All-Terrain Vehicle Dreamed of by Australia?

Maybe, but with caution. This has nothing to do with his talent, but rather he has been limited in 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 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: 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. That being said, we don’t expect him to bowl a huge amount of overs with the attack we have”.

Tim Paine

An Early Debut?

In a way, yes. A few weeks ago, it seemed unlikely that he would be part of the starting eleven at the beginning of the series, despite having been included in the expanded 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 by 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.