Star all-rounder Cameron Green said that he is ready to open the batting for Australia in Test cricket if required. After David Warner retired from Tests in January, Green has had the opportunity to bat at No. 4, with Steve Smith moving up to open the batting alongside Usman Khawaja.
The youngster slammed a fantastic century against New Zealand in March and also chipped in with three wickets as Australia won the series 2-0.
“There are about three or four guys who want to bat at four, that’s just the nature of international cricket. Everyone growing up bats at the three or four slot for their whole career. It’s only when you get to Australia level that you think, ‘gee Steve Smith is a pretty good No.4, and so is Travis Head, Marnus could do it’. I played in that position for the whole of my domestic career, so that’s the unfortunate nature of it. You have to fit everyone in and not everyone can bat at four,” Green said in the Wisden Cricket Weekly podcast while talking about his promotion to No. 4.
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Smith hasn’t had much success after moving to the top of the order. The legendary batter is just averaging 28.50 from eight innings as an opener. If Smith returns to No. 4 during the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy, it could leave Green out of position. The 25-year-old asserted that he is ready to open the batting for Australia in the longest format of the game if needed.
“We’ll have to wait and see. I think it’s totally up to Steve [Smith]. He’s earned the right to bat where he wants to bat and whatever happens, I’m happy to move around him. He’s a great of the game, and he’s earned the right to bat where he wants to bat,” said Green.
You always want to put your hand up to play for Australia: Cameron Green
Green admitted that opening the batting in Test cricket will be a tough task but he is willing to take the challenge in order to continue representing Australia.
“You always want to put your hand up to play for Australia and I think opening would be a difficult one, but not something I would say no to. We’ll have to see what the selectors decide to do, but at the same time I was open to do it six or nine months ago.
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“I’ve done it a couple of times for Australia in T20 cricket,” said Green of opening the batting after bowling. “I think I bowled the 20th over in India and then had to open the batting, which was a pretty tough ask. That has to be a consideration. I know Shane Watson used to do it, and I’m not too sure if his overs went down when he decided to be an opener, but it’s another discussion,” he concluded.
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