Cameron Green has put to bed any doubts about his fitness for the IPL by stressing he is “good to bowl”, despite being listed in Tuesday’s auction as a specialist batter.
The 26-year-old Australian all-rounder explained the administrative hiccup with a shrug. “I don’t know if my manager would like to hear this, but there was a stuff-up on his end. He didn’t mean to say ‘batter’. I think he accidentally selected the wrong box,” Green said before training in Adelaide. “It was pretty funny how it’s all played out, but it was actually a stuff-up on his end.”
Why it matters
Green – back to full duties after last year’s back surgery – is widely tipped to command the highest fee in Abu Dhabi, possibly surpassing the INR 27 crore shelled out for Rishabh Pant 12 months ago. Kolkata Knight Riders have the biggest purse, yet several franchises are expected to chase a player who can slot into a top-order role and offer lively seamers.
A brief look back
In 2023 he smashed 452 runs for Mumbai Indians, finishing with a rapid, unbeaten century off 47 balls, and chipped in with six wickets. The next season at Royal Challengers Bengaluru was bumpier – a mid-tournament drop before ending on 255 runs and 10 wickets – but he had still done enough to make teams reach for their calculators.
The road from surgery
Green missed the 2025 IPL while mending a stress fracture in the back. Australia initially eased him back as a pure batter in June, then cleared him to resume bowling, a schedule he has handled comfortably during the current Ashes series.
Auction night plans
The sale takes place on the eve of the third Test. Green admitted he will keep one eye on the screen: “I’m sure I will be [watching], with a few other guys. They’re always good fun to watch. It’s a bit of a lottery where you might go, but also who might be in your team, so it’s always been fun to watch.”
Friendships and future contracts
A stint at RCB forged a close bond with England’s Will Jacks; the pair plan to catch up with their partners in Melbourne before the fourth Test. Asked whether a long-term Cricket Australia deal appeals in light of the new memorandum of understanding, Green sidestepped politely. “We try to stay pretty present, so I’m not trying to look too far ahead… That’s nothing I think about too much.”
Who else is in the hat?
Steven Smith, Josh Inglis (on a limited window) and Beau Webster have all thrown their names in, while quick Jhye Richardson is on the long list after training alongside the Test squad.
Key numbers
• Base price: INR 2 crore
• Age: 26
• IPL 2023: 452 runs, 6 wickets
• IPL 2024: 255 runs, 10 wickets
Even allowing for the clerical error, bidders know exactly what they are getting: a towering all-format cricketer who can influence matches with bat, ball and, occasionally, the registration form.
