Cameron Green is focused on playing as a pure batter ahead of the WTC final. There might be a new role waiting for him at Number 3 and he is ready to embrace the challenge. Cameron Green will return to being a full-fledged all-rounder later this year but for now he is focussed on helping Australia retain the Test mace.
Cameron Green underwent back surgery in October, which ruled him out of the entire home season. Green enters the WTC final against South Africa on the back of three centuries for Gloucestershire and it’s not the first time in his career that he has seen the results of being forced to park the other side of his game.
Cameron Green thoughts on having frequent back injuries.Â
Cameron Green said,
“The silver lining to having four back injuries is I’ve got four chances only to be a batter. I felt like my game’s always been good around those periods. I’m always going to keep bowling, but you’re so much more relaxed (with) half a game to worry about. When you’re bowling and batting, there’s so much more you have to do bowling-wise to keep yourself fit and ready to play. It does take away from batting. So, certainly, just batting is nice,” mentioned while having an interaction with the reporters.
It was not a tough decision for Cameron Green to opt for surgery, although the stress fracture’s natural healing would have taken nine months to a year. He looked for inspiration of others who had undergone the procedure before.
Cameron Green reveals Jasprit Bumrah’s support the night before his operation
Cameron Green revealed how he got encouragement from Jasprit Bumrah ahead of his surgery. He said, “He was in the middle of a Test match in India. Just a few things like that are really special and makes you feel a lot better about it. To get someone like him to reach out and then to watch him during the summer, to see how good he is obviously post-surgery, filled me with a lot of confidence,”
Due to the advancements of technology, Green was up and about after just two weeks and admitted the coaches had to slow him down in his rehab on certain occasions. He would have been available to play the Sheffield Shield Final in late March had WA qualified.
Cameron Green on playing for Gloucestershire ahead of the WTC final.Â
The stint at Gloucestershire has left Cameron Green feeling a lot better prepared than ever to tackle conditions in a country where his previous four Tests in 2023 brought 134 runs at 19.14. These returns saw him dropped at the end of the Ashes, a tour that also had the challenge of a quick transition from the IPL.
“It’s certainly the best I’ve felt batting in England. To get the chance to come over and play some county cricket is massively valuable. So, it’s the most prepared I’ve been. I think it’s learning what the different conditions can bring. Speaking to a few county guys who’ve been here for years, different ways to go about it. Certain cliches like defending straight and scoring square. It’s normally the complete opposite to Australia, where you’re looking to just hit straight down the ground,”
Cameron Green’s past record at Number 4
Before getting injured, Green batted at Number 4 with Steven Smith opening the batting briefly. Green made full use of that opportunity by scoring a superb 174 not out in the Wellington Test which was his maiden Test ton and it was a breakthrough innings for him with the way he dominated in tricky conditions.
Now with Smith set to bat at 4, Green will need to fit in somewhere else. Number 6 looks unlikely as Beau Webster will be the all-rounder. The slot that appears more likely for Green is the Number 3 slot. Green has batted only once in his first class career but is unfazed by the prospect.
Cameron Green unfazed at the prospect of batting at 3
Green said: “You grow up through your whole career, you speak to anyone here, they’ve definitely batted in the top three or four throughout their whole junior career. I was no different, batting three until you get to first-class cricket. Absolutely no issues batting at three when you’ve done it your whole life,”
Cameron Green has got a lovely technique- Beau Casson
Former left-arm wrist spinner Beau Casson who has worked closely with Green as a batting coach for Western Australia firmly believes he can pick up from where he left off before the back injury came.
“He’s versatile. He can bat anywhere from one to six. He always has one or two things he’s trying to work on to get better. Whether it’s a shot, whether it’s a particular bowler he’s trying to face. We know there’s going to be ups and downs in form. I just don’t think the holes will be very big for Cameron because of his understanding of his game,” Casson told ESPNcricinfo.
“He’s got a lovely technique and I think he’s starting to show how he can express himself and take the game on, and that was his evolution. I know Andrew McDonald and Michael Di Venuto have done a great job with him. I think if he keeps getting those chances to showcase that in the middle he can be a very powerful player for Australia,” he added.
The Road Ahead
The immediate goal for Cameron Green will be to make a mark in the WTC final at Lord’s against South Africa. It remains to be seen whether Green bats at 3 and what sort of an impact does he create in the match. He is a great fielder. In the future, when he resumes bowling then someone like Beau Webster may be put under pressure. But that is for another time and at this stage we will see Green the batter in full view.
The WTC starts on Wednesday the 11th of June and anything can happen on the given Test match. Let’s see how Green does and how the match pans out.
Also Read: ICC WTC 2023-25: The Masterclass Mentor- AB De Villiers’ Mantra For Proteas’ WTC Final Quest