Last Updated on 17 hours by Charbel Coorey
Cricket News: What is Cameron Green’s record when batting at number 4 in the Sheffield Shield? | Cameron Green to bat at four for Australia
Steve Smith’s move to the top of the order has opened the door for Cameron Green to return to the Australian Test team. Green, who has batted 28 times at number six and eight times at number seven in Tests, will now bat at number four in a position he deems to be his strongest.
His Sheffield Shield numbers attest to that. In 25 innings batting at number four for Western Australia, Green has scored 1,413 runs at an average of 64.22. This includes six fifties and four hundreds, with a top score of 251. If he can replicate those sort of numbers for Australia in addition to his bowling, the team will enjoy the best of one of the most talented all-rounders going around.
Cameron Green’s record batting at number four: All-rounder excited by opportunity
Speaking to the media before the first Test against West Indies, Green said he was expecting to come into the team as opener. But, he is thrilled to be batting in his preferred position where he has more time to get set compared to number six.
“I thought I was about a 95 per cent chance of opening, so that’s where my head went for a couple of weeks and I’m grateful to be at four,” Green said.
“What I like is I’ve got a bit of time. I’ve always felt a touch rushed at six, especially after ‘Heady’ who makes it look a bit too easy at number five.
“So I’ve always felt like I’ve had to push the game along, whereas I feel like number four is my natural game where I can take my time and get settled in.”
Green slots into a settled Australian lineup that is fresh off a 3-0 triumph against Pakistan. David Warner’s retirement is the big change, but the home side is still heavily favoured to beat the West Indies who tour with a number of inexperienced players. Also, the Windies have not won a Test in Australia since 1997.
Australia’s playing XI for first Test against West Indies: 1. Usman Khawaja, 2. Steve Smith, 3. Marnus Labuschagne, 4. Cameron Green, 5. Travis Head, 6. Mitchell Marsh, 7. Alex Carey (wk), 8. Pat Cummins (c), 9. Mitchell Starc, 10. Nathan Lyon, 11. Josh Hazlewood
“So I’ve always felt like I’ve had to push the game along, whereas I feel like number four is my natural game where I can take my time and get settled in.”
Cameron Green
The first Test kicks off in Adelaide on Wednesday January 17. The series will then move to the Gabba on January 25 for the day/night Test.
