With the Ashes series beginning in Perth next month, a key member of Australia’s test squad has made an encouraging return with the ball.
Bowling in a competitive match for the first time in over a year, towering all rounder Cameron Green took 1-13 from four overs against New South Wales in the opening round of the Sheffield Shield, including a wicket with his second ball.
After missing the entire 2024/25 Australian summer following back surgery for stress fractures suffered during the ODI tour of the UK last year, Green was selected as a batsman only for the World Test Championship final against South Africa at Lord’s before playing all three tests against the West Indies in June and July.
State teammate Hilton Cartwright said the whole WA team was excited to see Green with the Kookaburra back in his hands against NSW, a feeling Australian captain Pat Cummins would no doubt be sharing ahead of a huge summer.
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“It’s nice to have (someone like Green) at your disposal, he’s an amazing cricketer,” Cartwright said.
“If he can bowl 137kph and bat at four, he’s going to tick a lot of boxes in a lot of teams.”
While currently restricted to sending down just four overs per innings, Green has declared he should be back to full capacity by the time the first test begins on 21 November at Perth’s Optus Stadium.
“It’s been a long 12 months, but feeling really good,” Green told the media on Friday.
“The body’s in a good place, it’s been a really good rehab journey, I feel stronger, fitter and my action feels good.
“First test should be no restrictions, that’s why it’s been such a slow build up so that (I’m) peaking by the time the Ashes comes around.”
While sitting out the recently-completed T20I series in New Zealand, the 26-year-old is expected to feature at some stage of the upcoming ODI series against India, however whether he bowls remains to be seen.
In his 32-match test career, Green has taken 35 wickets at an average of 35.3.
His best bowling against England was 3-21 in the final test of the 2021-22 Ashes series in Hobart.