Cameron Green: The Next Australian Cricket Star Debuts

Cameron Green, the 21-year-old all-rounder from Western Australia, is set to debut for Australia at the Adelaide Oval. His anticipated debut generates great expectation in the cricket world.

Highlighted Career

In first-class cricket, Green has demonstrated outstanding performance. He has accumulated five centuries in 21 matches, including an impressive 197, his best score, earlier in the season against New South Wales. Recently, he played against India last week, with a batting average of 55.04. In a match against Queensland at the Gabba in November 2019, he demonstrated his potential by batting 87 and 121, not being dismissed, playing in positions 8 and 9. This was 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 score of 6 for 30 in 2018. Although his career in the white-ball format does not stand out as much, he debuted in ODIs a couple of weeks ago, but has only played in nine matches in List A and T20 formats. It is with the red (and pink) ball where he has generated great enthusiasm.

Great Expectations

For me, Cameron Green is the next Australian cricket superstar. He is a genuine 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 bat 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

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.

Overcoming the Fear of Injury

A worrying moment was when he received a blow to the head from a Jasprit Bumrah delivery at the SCG. He had to leave the field and was replaced due to a concussion. Fortunately, scans revealed no fractures and it seems he will be able to comply with Cricket Australia’s protocols to debut.

The off-roader dreamed of by Australia?

Green has had restrictions on his releases due to a stress fracture in his back 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 a day in match conditions. However, he has shown his ability to take wickets, as demonstrated by two wickets in the second innings against India 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 little bit more than that, once you’re selected in a test match, you’re ready to play. Having said that, we don’t expect him to bowl a huge amount of overs with the attack we have.”

An unexpected debut?

Somehow, yes. A few weeks ago, it seemed unlikely that he would be selected in the XI at the start of the series, despite having been named in the extended squad. However, injuries to Warner and Pucovksi have altered plans, leading Australia to reconfigure the batting order and opening a spot for Green at number 6. This doesn’t mean Green isn’t deserving. Based on his current form, he could easily be considered one of Australia’s top six batsmen.