Cameron Green, a key player in Australia’s Test cricket team since his debut in 2020, has expressed his readiness to bat at any position needed. This statement comes as the team prepares for an intense year of cricket. Cameron Green, who recently moved up to number four in the batting order and slammed a century against New Zealand earlier this year, discussed this shift on the Wisden Cricket Weekly podcast.
Australian all-rounder Cameron Green has considered the idea of opening the batting for his team in Test cricket. The all-important role of an opener was left vacant in the Australian line-up earlier this year after the Test retirement of David Warner. Seasoned middle-order batter Steve Smith took up the role by joining Usman Khawaja at the top of the order during Australia’s subsequent series against West Indies and New Zealand.
Cameron Green, a middle-order explosive batter by design, said that while opening the innings for Australia will certainly be a challenge, it is not something he will back out of if he was offered the same.
Cameron Green leaves decision up to Steve Smith
Cameron Green plundered his career-best Test score of 174* against New Zealand at Wellington earlier this year. Batting at his usual number four position and facing 275 balls in the process, the dashing all-rounder smeared 23 boundaries and five sixes and catalyzed Australia’s 172-run win in the match.
Cameron Green’s promotion in the batting order was necessitated by David Warner’s retirement and Steve Smith’s subsequent promotion to the opener slot. Despite Smith’s mixed performance as an opener, the Australian batter scored an unbeaten 91 in his final innings against the West Indies. He could potentially retain his spot for the series against India later this year. If Smith moves back to number four, Cameron Green may open the batting, a role he hasn’t yet undertaken in Test cricket.
During a recent interview with Wisden, Green said that he will not refuse an opportunity of opening the innings for Australia, even though he described the opener’s profile a ‘difficult’ one.
Cameron Green willing to bat at any position for Australia in Tests
Australian all-rounder Cameron Green expressed his willingness to open the batting for the side in Tests should the need arise. Following David Warner’s retirement earlier this year, veteran batter Steve Smith shifted from his customary No.4 position to opening the batting for Australia to play both all-rounders Cameron Green and Mitchell Marsh.
While Cameron Green benefited massively with a brilliant 174* in the opening game of Australia’s last Test assignment in New Zealand, Smith has struggled at the top with an average of under 29 in eight innings. With the marquee five-Test series against India at home coming up in November, the management is still pondering the ideal opening partner for Usman Khawaja.
In an interview with Wisden, Cameron Green feels Smith had earned the right to choose his position in the batting order while adding that he was ready to open if required.
“You always want to put your hand up to play for Australia and I think opening would be a difficult one, but not something I would say no to. We’ll have to see what the selectors decide to do, but at the same time I was open to do it six or nine months ago,” said Green.
He added:
“We’ll have to wait and see. I think it’s totally up to Steve [Smith]. He’s earned the right to bat where he wants to bat and whatever happens, I’m happy to move around him. He’s a great of the game, and he’s earned the right to bat where he wants to bat.”
While Cameron Green has never opened the batting for Australia in Tests, he has performed the role several times in T20Is.
“I’ve done it a couple of times for Australia in T20 cricket. I think I bowled the 20th over in India and then had to open the batting, which was a pretty tough ask. That has to be a consideration. I know Shane Watson used to do it, and I’m not too sure if his overs went down when he decided to be an opener, but it’s another discussion,” Green mentioned.
Smith averages over 60 at No.3 and 4, having batted the majority of his Test career in those positions. Meanwhile, Cameron Green has struggled in his time as the opener in T20Is, averaging only under 20 in seven innings.
“There are about three or four guys who want to bat at four” – Cameron Green
Cameron Green admitted that several batters in the current Australian line-up came up the ranks batting at No.3 or 4.
The 25-year-old has been incredibly successful since becoming the side’s No.4 this year, averaging 53.60 in four matches.
“There are about three or four guys who want to bat at four, that’s just the nature of international cricket. Everyone growing up bats at the three or four slot for their whole career. It’s only when you get to Australia level that you think, ‘gee Steve Smith is a pretty good No.4, and so is Travis Head, Marnus could do it’.
I played in that position for the whole of my domestic career, so that’s the unfortunate nature of it. You have to fit everyone in and not everyone can bat at four,” said Green.
It remains to be seen whether Australia continue with Smith as the opener for the crucial Border-Gavaskar Trophy against India, starting in Perth on November 22.