The 21-year-old all-rounder from Western Australia, Cameron Green, is set to 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.
How has your career been so far?
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, he demonstrated his worth 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 career-best figures of 6 for 30 in 2018. Although his white-ball career doesn’t stand out as much, he debuted in ODIs 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 expectation.
Big Expectations?
You could say so. 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 true prospect with the bat and ball, but I think his future is as a batsman who can offer some quality overs. Cameron is an exceptionally talented batsman. 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 is meant to be.
Greg Chappell
What about the recent injury?
The moment was worrying when Green was hit on the head by a Jasprit Bumrah delivery at the SCG. He immediately left the field and was substituted from the match due to concussion. He underwent tests that ruled out any fractures. Fortunately, the blow has not caused major damage (unlike Will Pucovski, Green has no history of concussions) and it seems he will comply with all Cricket Australia protocols to be able to debut.
Is it the all-terrain vehicle that Australia has dreamed of?
Perhaps, 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 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 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. That said, we don’t expect him to bowl a huge amount of overs with the attack we have.”
Has their debut arrived sooner than expected?
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 expanded 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 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 in the number 6 position. That is not to say that Green does not deserve it. In 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 for his batting alone.
