‘Three dimensional’ Green is proving his worth
BEN Green is steadily emerging as an important player for Somerset in all formats of county cricket.
The Devonian all-rounder has long been rated highly by the coaching regime at Taunton, not just for his ability as a batsman and seam bowler, but for his tactical acumen and leadership skills.
The latter qualities saw Green appointed captain of Somerset’s Royal London Cup team last season, a role he performed admirably, guiding a largely rookie team.
This summer Ben, inset, was asked to fill an opening batting role in the first two County Championship games. And in the early Vitality Blast matches, he has been employed as a seamer, taking one for 25 from four overs in the opening win over Kent at Canterbury.
On Monday evening, he claimed the vital wicket of James Vince as Somerset made it three wins from their first three group matches against Hampshire at Southampton, and finished with two for 19 before hitting the winning run.
It was further confirmation of
Green’s relatively unheralded, but nevertheless impressive, development into a key member of the club’s white ball teams.
Somerset director of cricket, Andy Hurry, describes him as “a student of the game” and “a three-dimensional cricketer, who can clear the ropes with the bat, create pressure with the ball and change a game in the field”.
Hurry told me: “This is an exciting time for Ben. He grew from the opportunity to captain our 50-over side last summer and made it into our Finals Day team in the Vitality Blast.
“Now the chance is there for him to really establish himself as a regular for us in white ball cricket.”
When I spoke to Green, a product of Devon age-group cricket and Somerset’s Academy, about his targets for the season, his first thought was about Championship cricket.
“I can open the batting, but I am also versatile enough to fill a role in the middle order if an extra seamer is required,” he said.
“I thoroughly enjoy long format cricket and during the winter spent two-hour sessions in the indoor school at Taunton, looking to build the concentration to bat for long periods.
“It was a pleasure captaining our Royal London Cup side last season because the team contained so many talented youngsters and all of them showed something.
“I was able to develop my leadership and tactical skills. Now I hope that, even when I am not skipper, I can help Tom Abell out with a few ideas.”
Green made his T20 debut for Somerset against Hampshire back in 2016, getting his chance in Championship and List A cricket two years later.
The Exeter-born player represented England at Under-15, Under-17 and Under-19 levels. Now, at the age of 24, he looks set to achieve the potential shown as a teenager.
Against Glamorgan at Taunton, in last season’s Royal London Cup, Green led from the front with a match-winning innings of 87 off 72 balls to pave the way for a thrilling one-run success.
Three wickets and three catches in the first three Blast group games, plus an economy rate with the ball of just over seven, offered further evidence of his growing value to the team.