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Cameron Green willing to bat at any position for Australia in Tests
By SMCS - Sep 24, 2024 9:40 am
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Australian all-rounder Cameron Green shared his willingness to open the batting for the side in the longer format as well. Following David Warner’s retirement earlier this year, veteran batter Steve Smith moved up from his customary No.4 position to opening the batting for Australia to adjust both all-rounders Cameron Green and Mitchell Marsh in the middle as well.

Cameron Green
Cameron Green tested positive for Covid-19

While Green benefited a lot with a brilliant 174* in the opening game of Australia’s last Test in New Zealand, Smith has struggled at the top with an average of under 29 in eight innings as well. With the marquee five-match Test series against India at home coming up in November, the management is still discussing the ideal opening partner for Usman Khawaja as well.

In an interview with Wisden, Green said, “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. 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.”

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“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 shared.

steve smith
Steve Smith

However, he averages over 60 at No.3 and 4, having batted the majority of his Test career in those positions as well. Meanwhile, Green has struggled as the opener in T20Is as well. averaging only under 20 in seven innings. Cameron Green also admitted that several batters in the current Australian team came up the ranks batting at No.3 or 4 as well. The star player has been successful since becoming the side’s No.4 this year, averaging 53.60 in four matches so far as well.

“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,” Cameron Green concluded.