Cameron Green’s hundred against India in Ahmedabad continued an astronomic rise for the all-rounder since his Test debut in 2020.
Australia have spent the past 40 years searching for their answer to Ian Botham. They may have undervalued one option in Shane Watson and Mitchell Marsh has had his moments, but it finally seems as though a potentially world-class all-round cricketer is emerging.
Still only 23, the Western Australian averages 38 with the bat and 30 with the ball after 20 Test matches. That gives him a better record than Jacques Kallis ( 32 and 33), Imran Khan (24 and 32) and Ben Stokes (28 and 41) after the same period.
Green has also played a vital role in balancing the Australian team in India. He acts as a reliable second seamer alongside Mitchell Starc and makes room for three spinners by batting at six. His presence in the Indore Test allowed Australia to play Matthew Kuhnemann, Nathan Lyon and Todd Murphy, who took 18 wickets between them as Australia won by nine wickets, without weakening the batting.
Even without his bowling, which has already seen him take a Boxing Day five-for and average below 25 in Australia, the start to Green’s batting career puts him among the best Australia have produced in the modern era.
In the past 40 years, none of his compatriots have scored more runs at a better average than Green before turning 24, and he boasts a similar record to Ricky Ponting at the same age (941 runs at 38 to Ponting’s 1209 at 37).
Green is putting together a reputation as someone who thrives in Asia as well as at home after being named man of the match in Galle for an aggressive 77 on a turning pitch last July, and adding his maiden ton in India this week. Green averages 49 with the bat in Asia, compared to 32 in Oceania.
The only big question remaining is how will he do in English conditions. Green has never played county cricket and looks set to be a key part of Australia’s Ashes plans.
It is common for Australian batters with excellent records to struggle in away Ashes series (both Travis Head and David Warner average half as much in England as they do at home), but Green could be a vital cog in Pat Cummins’ side if he can continue to bring stability in the middle order, as they look to win a series in England for the first time in 22 years.
Steve Smith, who is standing in as captain in Ahmedabad, was full of praise for the all-rounder before the fourth Test got underway on Thursday.
“He’s a quality young player and just his all-round ability helps us in terms of the way we want to go about things with our XI,” he said.
“We saw him play exceptionally well in Galle. He did things a bit differently to how he’s done things in the past. He brought the sweep out, he used his feet, he got deep in the crease. He did all the things that you need to do really well when the conditions were extreme.”
