With a tally of 149 runs at an average of 21.28 in the ongoing Ashes so far along with a total of four wickets at an average of 60.75, Australian all-rounder Cameron Green has not had a fine run in the series for the hosts. Green, who made his test debut for Australia in 2020, is currently ranked 17th in the list of ICC Test all-rounders and former Australian batsman Michael Hussey believes that Green should learn for this series and should be persisted with by the Australian team management.
“I think he’ll actually really learn a lot from this series, learn a lot about himself as a person, learn a lot about himself about his game. It’ll build his resilience. I think he’s someone that has to be persisted with. He’s someone that can bat in the top six. He can bowl high-quality overs. This series hasn’t gone his way. Some of it to his own mistakes, but some of it, things just don’t go your way. And sometimes that happens in cricket, happens in a Test series. He’s had a tough series here and he will have learned a lot. We’ll see the benefits of that in the next, I think we’ve got 20 Test matches coming up in the next couple of years, we’ll see the benefits of that in those games,” Hussey told Fox Sports.
Green, who had created history last month by becoming the most expensive overseas player in IPL history in the IPL 2026 Auction with Kolkata Knight Riders buying him for Rs 25.50 crore, has averaged 21.82 in his last eight Tests prior to Sydney Test with the bat including one half-century. The all-rounder has a highest score of 45 runs in the ongoing Ashes series and has taken a total of four wickets without taking in excess of one wicket in an innings this series. In the Sydney Test, Green played a 64-ball knock of 37 runs during Australia’s first innings total of 518 for 7 at the end of the third day’s play. Green’s bowling lacked consistency with him giving away 85 runs while taking one wicket in his spell of 18 overs during England’s first innings. While Australian team-management also picked up all-rounder Beau Webster for the Sydney Test with the 32-year-old all-rounder currently batting on 452 runs at the end of the third day’s play, former Australia captain Mark Waugh believes Green has more potential than Webster but Green needs to start performing.
“He’s a great talent. We know that. He’s capable of getting a hundred and getting a ‘five fa’. He’s probably in the genuine all-rounder class when he’s fit. But like anybody, you just don’t give him a spot in the team. You’ve got to perform and he would know that. He’ll get a bit more leeway than most players because he’s young and he’s got talent. They see him as the number one all-rounder and I think that’s right. If you’re comparing Webster and Green, I’m taking Green over Webster. Although Webster’s done well, I think Green’s got more potential to get a hundred and take a ‘five fa’. I see him ahead of Webster, but he’s got to start performing. I suppose the other thing in Green’s favour is that the batting order is not very settled … now that Khawaja’s just gone. There’s not a lot of people putting their hands up. There’s spots to be filled already without getting rid of Cameron Green, so that’s probably in his favour as well.” Waugh told Fox Sports.
Green had batted at the number two spot in the first three Tests this Ashes before batting at number seven and eight in the fourth Test at Melbourne. Earlier last year, Green had also batted at the number three spot. With Alex Carey batting at the number six spot for Australia, former Australian captain Michael Clarke believes that Green can bat at number six with Carey batting at number seven giving the example of Adam Gilchrist. “Why can’t we just leave Cameron at six? Just leave him at six. Even if Beau Webster comes in, just leave him at six. Alex Carey is doing a good job, but Gilly (Adam Gilchrist) was a pretty good player as well when he handled No.7,” Clarke told Fox Sports.
