Cameron Green reveals he suffers from chronic kidney disease

In a video released by 7Cricket, Cameron Green, along with his parents and girlfriend, spoke about how the disease was diagnosed and what it means for Green’s everyday life as a professional cricketer.

“My parents got told when I was born that I had chronic kidney disease,” said Green. “There are no symptoms, it got picked up through ultrasounds. Chronic kidney disease is basically a progressive disease of your kidneys’ health function. Unfortunately mone don’t filter the blood as well as other kidneys so they’re about 60 per cent at the moment which is stage two.”

Green’s father Gary also revealed the serious ramifications the disease could have had for his son from early in his life: “At the time [when Green was born] it was unchartered territory. So the prognosis wasn’t great and there were life expectancy issues that we might not expect him to live past 12 years of age.”

Cameron Green has chronic kidney disease.

There are five stages to it, with the fifth stage requiring a transplant or dialysis.

This is how Green – currently at stage two – manages the condition every day… pic.twitter.com/ikbIntapdy

— 7Cricket (@7Cricket) December 14, 2023

As a fast bowler who stands at six foot six inches tall, Green also revealed that his tall stature wasn’t a guarantee after his diagnosis. “My parents got told when I was younger that I could be pretty small,” Green said. “Which is pretty funny to look back on now.

“I consider myself very lucky that I’m not affected physically by chronic kidney disease as other people who have the same thing. With chronic kidney disease, there are five stages, with stage one being the least severe and stage five being transplant or dialysis. Fortunately enough, I’m stage two, but if you don’t look after them enough it can easily go back down because kidneys can’t get better: it’s irreversible. So any way you can find to slow the progression, you do.”

Revealing how the illness affects his cricket career, Green referred to an incident during an international match between Australia and New Zealand in Cairns where he scored 89 runs in a close chase.

“There was definitely this one time in Cairns with Australia vs New Zealand,” said Green. “I think it was pretty well documented. I had a pretty big day of bowling, and then had a pretty long innings with the bat as well and then had a cramping episode.

“It took me a long time to recognise that it was probably my kidney function that was affecting my cramping. I always thought I didn’t eat enough, didn’t drink enough, didn’t look after myself during the game as much as I should have. But I think over time I realised I was doing absolutely everything right and I was still cramping unfortunately.

“I think all the guys in the Aussie cricket team I’ve told. After a few cramping episodes I probably had to come off and tell them that there was something more than not being professional enough, because I knew in the background I was eating and drinking as much as I could to give myself the best chance.”

Green was left out of Australia’s XI for the first Test of the three-match series against Pakistan in Perth. His place in the side was taken by Mitchell Marsh, who came in during the Ashes earlier this year and put in some impressive performances.

“I think it’s really important to speak out about what I’ve got,” said Green. “If there’s one person out there who potentially might get helped by me speaking out then it’s definitely worthwhile.”