Cameron Green has his sights set on becoming a full-time allrounder for Australia later this year. Yet, for the moment, his focus is on his batting as he approaches a potential new role in the Test team.
Green, recovering from back surgery that caused him to miss the entire home season, is gearing up for the World Test Championship (WTC) final against South Africa. He’s coming off a sparkling stint with Gloucestershire, where he hit three centuries. This isn’t the first time he’s concentrated on his batting due to injury setbacks. Reflecting on his situation, Green noted: “The silver lining to having four back injuries is I’ve got four chances only to be a batter… Certainly, just batting is nice.”
The decision for surgery, despite the stress fracture potentially healing naturally over a year, wasn’t difficult for Green. He consulted other players who had undergone similar procedures, like Ben Dwarshuis and Jason Behrendorff. Support from India’s Jasprit Bumrah, too, played a crucial role. Green recounted, “He was in the middle of a Test match in India. Just a few things like that are really special and make you feel a lot better about it.”
Thanks to medical advancements, Green was mobile just two weeks post-surgery. At times, coaches had to temper his rehabilitation efforts. He was ready for play as early as late March, had Western Australia made it to the Sheffield Shield final.
Discussing the possibility of batting at No.3 in the WTC final, Green remarked: “There’s absolutely no issues batting at three when you’ve done it your whole life.”
A spell with Gloucestershire, thanks to funding by club member Chris Coley, has Green feeling adequately prepared for English conditions, which had proved challenging during his previous tour in 2023. He observed, “It’s certainly the best I’ve felt batting in England. To get the chance to come over and play some county cricket is massively valuable. So it’s the most prepared I’ve been.”
The experience has allowed him to learn from seasoned county players, giving him insights into the varying conditions in England. Green’s journey underscores a blend of professional growth and personal resilience, balanced with the support of the cricketing community.
