Cameron Green: The New Star of Australian Cricket Debuts in Adelaide
Western Australia’s young all-rounder, 21-year-old Cameron Green, is set to make his Australia debut at the Adelaide Oval. His first appearance is one of the most anticipated in recent times. Here are some details about him.
Professional Career
In first-class cricket, Green has proven to be exceptional. He has 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 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 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. His career in white-ball cricket is not as prominent, although he debuted in ODIs a couple of weeks ago, but this is only in a handful of matches: nine in List A and T20.
It is with the red (and pink) ball that is generating great expectation.
Great Expectations
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,” said Chappell. “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 Recent Injury
A worrying moment was when Green was hit in the head by a delivery from Jasprit Bumrah at the SCG. He immediately left the field and was substituted, also undergoing tests that ruled out any 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 Dream Off-Roader?
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 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.”
Debut Before Expected?
In a way, yes. In fact, just 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 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 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. 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 selection just for his batting.
