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. This appearance is one of the most anticipated in recent times, and here we tell you more about him.
Highlighted Career
In first-class cricket, his performance has been outstanding. He has accumulated five centuries in 21 matches, including a personal best of 197 runs earlier this season against New South Wales. His batting average is 55.04. In November 2019, in a match against Queensland at the Gabba, he demonstrated his potential 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, a team against which he also achieved his best mark of 6 for 30 in 2018. Although his career in one-day matches does not stand out as much, he made his ODI debut a couple of weeks ago, this is from a handful of matches: nine in List A and T20. It is with the red (and pink) ball where he is generating great expectation.
Great Expectations
Greg Chappell has called him the “best since Ricky Ponting” in recent interviews. In June, Chappell selected him in the number 6 position in the test team.
“For me, Cameron Green is the next Australian cricket superstar,” Chappell stated. “He’s a real prospect with the bat and ball, but I think his future lies 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 scare due to injury
The most 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 substituted due to concussion, but tests ruled out any fractures. Fortunately, the blow did not cause major damage and it seems he will be able to comply with all Cricket Australia protocols to debut.
The all-terrain vehicle Australia dreamed of?
Maybe, 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 hasn’t 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 suggested that the bowling restrictions will be relaxed. “I think he’ll bowl a little bit more, 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.”
An unexpected debut?
In a way, yes. Just 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 named in the extended squad. However, plans have been altered by the injuries of Warner and Pucovksi, which has led Australia to restructure the batting order (at least for one test) and has created the opportunity in the number 6 position. This does not mean that Green does not 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 stated that he is worthy of selection based on his batting alone.
