Cameron Green’s stellar form in county cricket has nearly secured his place in Australia’s line-up for the World Test Championship (WTC) final. Australia coach Andrew McDonald has confirmed that selection discussions, such as whether to include an all-rounder against South Africa at Lord’s, will determine Green’s batting position.
Green, 25, won’t be bowling in the final but is poised to return purely as a batsman. This decision might shake up the batting order, as the selectors contemplate permutations with players like Marnus Labuschagne, Sam Konstas, Beau Webster, and Josh Inglis.
After achieving a career-high 174 not out last year in a Test series against New Zealand, Green has recently scored three centuries and an unbeaten 67 for Gloucestershire. This is his first cricket since undergoing back surgery last October.
Speaking on SEN radio, McDonald clarified that Steven Smith would stay at No. 4, but Green could slot anywhere in the top six. “He could be three, he could be five, he could be six, he could open,” McDonald noted. “I think he’s got the temperament. He’s got the skill set. He’s got defensive play as well. I think the higher up the order you go, your defensive skills are a priority. He’s got all bases covered.”
Green’s inclusion has a ripple effect on the team. Travis Head will return to No. 5, meaning Usman Khawaja will need a new opening partner after recent changes involving Smith, Head, Konstas, and Nathan McSweeney.
Though Beau Webster has impressed as an all-rounder against India and in Sri Lanka, McDonald highlighted that he’s not guaranteed a spot at Lord’s. “There’s an XI on a board, but it’s got some dashes with multiple names in different positions,” McDonald explained. “Do we need to play the all-rounder depending on the conditions that present? That’ll then shuffle the batting order. We’re quite flexible in our approach to that.”
McDonald further hinted that the decision could also involve Konstas and Labuschagne for the opening spot if Green bats at No. 3 with Webster holding a place. “If you require the all-rounder in the conditions, that would then lend itself to a decision around the top order,” said McDonald. “And that’s not to dismiss the fact that Beau Webster can be a bat only as well.”
With the team discussing various options, McDonald emphasised, “We’ve got roughly what we think it might look like. And then clearly, there’ll be some decisions as we get to the pointy end. And we’ve said before that we only make decisions when we need to.”
