Golden boy Green aims for Ashes peak

PERTH: It is easy to think of Cameron Green as the baby of Australia’s team. In relative terms he is, given he is the only squad member under 30 and a full four years younger than the second youngest player in “Dad’s Army”. But he’s no longer a baby in professional cricket. He’s 26, a full five years into his Test career, and eight-and-a half years into his first-class career. Eighteen months ago, Steven Smith volunteered to open the batting to settle Green at No.4 after David Warner’s retirement and he delivered with what appeared to be a career-shap ing 174 not out in Wellington to win a Test for Australia. He has batted at No.4 only twice since. In June, Pat Cummins declared that Green could be Australia’s long-term No.3 after returning from injury as a specialist batter for the WTC final. It appeared to be a poisoned chalice, having batted there once prior in first-class cricket. After two tough Tests on two tough pitches, he was arguably Australia’s best bat ter in their most recent Tests in Grenada and Jamaica with match-defining scores of 26, 52, 46 and 42 in two more low-scoring Tests. But three days out from Australia’s next Test, the first against England at home in the most anticipated Ashes in his lifetime, Green does not know where he will bat despite being the unwitting kingmaker in Australia’s XI, given he is finally available to bowl again. “No, not yet. I think the people in charge met last night,” Green said on Tues day. “I’ll probably get told later today. Whichever way they go, I think we’ve got a really great squad, a lot of great combinations to go with. So I’m pretty easy either way.” It appears highly likely that Green will be sent back to No.6, with Marnus Labus chagne reinstated at No.3 and Jake Weatherald making his Test debut as Usman Khawa ja’s seventh opening partner in Australia’s last 16 Tests. Green was asked how he felt about bouncing around the order and where he might settle long-term. “I think I’m just so grate ful that they see me as some one who could do all those positions,” Green said. “I’ve moved around quite a bit in the Test team especially. But I think it’s probably how good the coaching staff is that they make you feel really secure, regardless of where you’re playing, and regard less if you get moved around. “I’m very fortunate that they think that way about me, but happy to bat any where.” While Green is secure, Beau Webster is not. That Webster could be squeezed out of the XI, having done very little wrong in the No.6 role as the allrounder across his seven Tests to date will not sit well at all with Austra lian fans. Green is saddled with the burden of being the golden boy, for whom all must be accommodated. That is mak ing him unpopular with home fans, much in the same way Shane Watson was during his career. There are eerie similari ties. Highly gifted, with incred ible physical attributes and a stunning Sheffield Shield record from a young age. But neither have quite lived up to the expectation to date, in part because of injury interrup tions, in part because it’s been a struggle to find the best way to deploy their talents. But the similarities end when you dig into their records. Watson after 32 Tests was averaging 38.12 with the bat with two centu ries, having hit a career high watermark of 42.11 during the 2010-11 Ashes when he was in the middle of his suc cessful run as a Test opener. He also averaged a career low of 28.01 with the ball with three five-wicket hauls. Green also has two centu ries but averages 34.02 with the bat and 35.31 with the ball. Webster’s numbers of 34.63 and 23.25 only enrage those Green skeptics further. Green hasn’t helped himself. His Test batting record overseas, when most Austra lia fans are asleep, is better than both Travis Head and Labuschagne. But his record at home, when most casual Australian fans watch, is poor. He has also hardly played. This week will be just his second Test on his home ground at Perth Sta dium, and he didn’t get a bat in his first. — Crici