A green light for the ’ best since Ponting’
CAMERON Green is the best Australian batsman Greg Chappell has seen since Ricky Ponting and one who could be key to winning the 2020- 21 Ashes.
The former selector believes that with the Indians in the country for the Test series the time is right to pick the talented 21- year- old, who many believed would only play if he was bowling.
Injured last year, the allrounder has since played state cricket solely as a bats
man and has displayed form that demands selection.
The West Australian scored 197 against NSW in the last Shield match, his fourth first- class century from 17 games, and has averaged 74.5 since the beginning of last summer.
Green came to attention when he took a five- wicket haul against Tasmania on debut as a 17- year- old while batting at No. 8.
The tall youngster is ready to return to bowling but Chappell said it was important to get into the Test team
as a batsman before the strains of the Shield circuit saw him break down again — as young bowlers inevitably will.
The first Test is more than a month away. There are two rounds of the Shield before then and few spots open in the middle order. Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne are immovable objects. Tim Paine is going nowhere and Travis Head defended his place with a resounding 171no for South Australia while Paine was keeping in the last match against Tasmania.
Matthew Wade has left a door open by opting to skip the first two Shield rounds to spend time with his family.
While some counsel patience with Green, Chappell believes elite young players learn best when thrown in at the deep end.
“This is a serious player, this is a special player,” Chappell said. “He is the best young player I’ve seen since Ricky Ponting. He is our next superstar.
“You just have to pick him now before he breaks his back and he can’t play.
“My greatest fear about him is that everyone gets excited about his bowling and the kid can bowl, he is a rare talent there as well. But you know that if he bowls 20 to 30 overs a game for Western Australia he will break. Or break again.”
Justin Langer was the Western Australia coach at the time and Chappell rang him to say he had a kid “who could be anything”.
Langer is certainly aware of Green’s emerging skills and Paine is on board after seeing him bat in the Shield last year.