Follow UsCameron Green has been out of Test cricket for 15 months as he was recovering from surgery following a stress fracture on the back. However, he is now ready to return to the Australian side for the World Test Championship (WTC) 2025 final against South Africa, which will begin from June 11 (Wednesday) onwards.
Green is likely to return to the team solely as a batter, which is something he is completely fine doing, given that he has one less thing to worry about. "The silver lining to having four back injuries is I've got four chances only to be a batter," Green said, according to ESPNCricinfo.
"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."
With him playing only as a batter, it opens up a space for Beau Webster in the XI, and he is likely to slot in at six. Green batted at four, thanks to Steve Smith agreeing to open for a brief period following David Warner's retirement. However, with Smith back at four, Green is open to playing at three, if needed.
He has batted first just once in that position in first-class cricket, but is not too fussed about it.
"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," he said.
"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."
The 26-year-old is also in the middle of a stellar season in County cricket for Gloucestershire, for whom he has slammed three centuries and one fifty in nine innings, which puts him in good stead ahead of the WTC final. Green is grateful to have the opportunity to play in England.
"It's certainly the best I've felt batting in England," Green said.
"To get the chance to come over and play some country 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."
Green has played 28 Tests for Australia since making his debut in 2020, scoring 1,377 runs at 36.23. His bowling has also fetched him 35 wickets at 35.31.