GREENTHUMBDOWN TOPUNTERLIKENING
BEINGcomparedtothegreatRicky PontingleavesyounggunCameron Greenlostforwords.
The21-year-oldWestAustralianallrounderismovingclosertoaTest debutafterbeingnamedinAustralia’s 17-mansquadforthefour-matchseries againstIndiastartingnextmonth inAdelaide.
Chairmanofselectors TrevorHohnssaidboth GreenandVictorian run-machineWillPucovski“demanded”inclusioninthe extendedsquad.
Green’semergence, particularlywiththebat, hasbeensogoodthat formerTestcaptainGreg ChappellsaidGreenwas“the bestbattingtalentsinceRickyPonting (pictured)”.
Ithasputanimmediateexpectation onGreen,andit’spressurethathe’snot entirelycomfortablewith.
“It’sobviouslyreallynicewordsto hear,buttobefairthosewordsare sometimesjustwords,”hesaid.“It’sall justhype.Ihaven’tgotmuchtherefor you.” GreensaiditwasagreattimeinAustraliancrickettohavethelikesofhim andPucovskiincludedinTestselection conversation. “It’sanalreadyanincredibleAustralianteamtobreakinto,andtohave evenmoretalentknockingonthedoor, it’s incredibly exciting,” he said. “I’mincrediblygratefulto begiventheopportunity. Asayoungkidyouwant toalwaysplayforAustralia, so to get this opportunityjusttobe inthesquad,IhopeI justgainalotofexperiencefromthat.” Greenwasalso namedina19-manAustralia“A”squadfortwo matchesagainstIndia. Hewasselectedlastmonthin Australia’s18-strongsquadforupcomingone-dayinternationalsandTwenty20matches,alsoagainstIndia. Boundtogetachanceduringthesix white-ballcontests,Greenisrelishing theprospectofbowlinghisseamersto IndianbattinglegendViratKohli.