Cameron Green: The Australian Promise Debuts in Test Cricket

Cameron Green: The New Promise of Australian Cricket Ready to Debut

The 21-year-old all-rounder, Cameron Green, originally from Western Australia, is about to make his debut for Australia at the Adelaide Oval. His arrival generates great expectation, being one of the most anticipated debuts of recent times. Let’s get to know a little more about this promising player.

Highlighted Career

In first-class cricket, Green has demonstrated exceptional performance. He has accumulated five centuries in 21 matches, including an impressive 197, his personal best, achieved earlier this season against New South Wales. Recently, he faced the Indians last week, showing a batting average of 55.04. A key match was against Queensland at the Gabba in November 2019, where he demonstrated his ability with the bat, scoring 87 and 121 not out, batting in positions 8 and 9. That same game marked his last appearance as a bowler for a year. As a bowler, 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 white-ball formats does not stand out as much, he debuted in ODIs a couple of weeks ago, with only nine matches in List A and T20 formats. It is with the red and pink ball where he is generating the most enthusiasm.

Great Expectations

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

“For me, Cameron Green is the next superstar of Australian cricket. He’s a real prospect with the bat and ball, but I think his future is as a batsman who can offer good overs. Cameron is a batsman with exceptional 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

Concern about the Recent Injury

A worrying moment was when Green was hit in the head by a delivery from Jasprit Bumrah at the SCG. He had to leave the field and was substituted due to a concussion. Although he underwent tests, no fracture was detected. Fortunately, the impact did not cause major damage, and it seems that he will comply with Cricket Australia’s protocols to be able to debut.

The Dream Off-Roader for Australia?

With caution, Green could be. This is not due to his talent, but to the restrictions on his bowling 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 been limited to four-over spells. This season, he has not bowled more than eight overs in match conditions. However, he has shown his ability to take wickets, with two in the second innings against the Indians at Drummoyne Oval and an excellent play to dismiss Shubman Gill before his injury at the SCG. Tim Paine suggested that bowling restrictions could be relaxed. “I think he’ll bowl a 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 Early Debut?

Somehow, yes. A few weeks ago, it seemed unlikely that he would be part of the starting team at the beginning of the series, despite having been included in the extended squad. The preferred strategy was for Australia to maintain its traditional balance of six batsmen, a wicketkeeper, and four bowlers. However, plans were altered due to injuries to Warner and Pucovksi, leading Australia to reorganize the batting order and create an opportunity at the number 6 position. This does not mean that Green is not deserving. With his current form, he could arguably be among Australia’s top six batsmen, with Justin Langer and national selector Trevor Hohns stating that he deserves selection based on his batting alone.