Cameron Green: The New Promise of Australian Cricket Debuts in Adelaide
The 21-year-old
allrounder, Cameron Green, from Western Australia, is ready to make his debut with the Australian national team 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 journey been so far?
In first-class cricket, his performance has been outstanding. He has scored five centuries in 21 matches, including a personal best of 197 earlier this season against New South Wales. His batting average is 55.04. A key match against Queensland at the Gabba in November 2019 demonstrated his potential with the bat, scoring 87 and 121 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 with 33 wickets, including 5 for 24 in his first-class debut against Tasmania, against whom he also achieved his best figures of 6 for 30 in 2018. His career in short-format matches does not stand out as much, although he debuted in ODIs a couple of weeks ago, but this is in a limited number of matches: nine in List A and T20.
It is with the red (and pink) ball that it is generating great enthusiasm.
Great Expectations
You could say so. Greg Chappell has called him “the best since Ricky Ponting” in recent interviews, and in June, Chappell selected him at number 6 in the Test team.
“For me, Cameron Green is the next Australian cricket superstar,” Chappell 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 exceptional talent. At 6 feet 7 inches, he could become something very special. I would put him to bat 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 he was hit on the head by a Jasprit Bumrah delivery at the SCG. He had to leave the field and was replaced due to concussion, in addition to undergoing tests that ruled out any fractures. Fortunately, the blow did not cause major damage (unlike Will Pucovski, Green has no history of concussions) and it seems that he will be able to comply with all Cricket Australia protocols to be able to debut.
Is he the allrounder that Australia has dreamed of?
Possibly, but with caution. This has nothing to do with his talent, but with the restrictions on his release due to a stress fracture in his back that he suffered last year. He has been working 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 relaxed. “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.”
Did your debut come sooner than expected?
In a way, yes. In fact, 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 were altered due to injuries to Warner and Pucovksi, which led Australia to reorganize the batting order (at least for one Test) and that has created the opportunity in the number 6 position. 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 selection based on his batting alone.
