GRENADA TEST
Australia’s newest No.3 put on a defiant batting show on Day 3 in Grenada, scoring 51 off 123 balls © AFP
Australia’s new No.3 in Tests, Cameron Green, was chuffed with his fighting efforts in the second innings on Day 3 of the Grenada Test against West Indies on Saturday. Green batted 123 balls for his 52 – his first from one-drop, and added a crucial 93-run partnership with Steve Smith, who marked his return to the side with a fluent 71.
“You always need an innings here and there just to get you going and hopefully today was one of those,” Green said at the close of play. “If anything, it’s good to get some time out there, there’s a lot of good things I get out of just spending time in the middle. My balls faced has been trending up; the runs haven’t been there but there’s certainly little positives I can take out of it.”
Green missed the 2024-25 home season following a back surgery and made his competitive return through a County stint with Gloucestershire. He scored three centuries in five County games, including one in his first innings on return. He went into the WTC final as the designated No.3 batter, with Marnus Labuschagne pushed up to open with Usman Khawaja. Labuschagne has since lost his Test spot and Smith missed the first Test against West Indies through a hand injury. Green’s initiation at No.3, meanwhile, had been underwhelming, until Saturday night. He followed scores of 4, 0, 3, 15 and 26 with a gritty and patient 52 in tough conditions to keep Australia in front in the second Test.
“If you ask most of the guys in our changeroom, they’ve all batted number three their whole junior career and no different with me,” he said of his new batting position. “I’ve batted number four for WA (and Australia), being one spot up is no different.
“I don’t think I ever really felt comfortable out there (on that pitch) – certainly (Friday) night was tricky and just with the new ball today (Saturday), I had to start again. You could probably ask a different question to Steve, he was batting on a different wicket. He’s clearly a class above – that’s a tough wicket so to play as well as he did was incredible,” he added.
The long injury layoff before the WTC final meant Green is not back to providing his full services as an all-rounder – featuring just as a batter at the moment.
“To be able to sneak into (the team) while still not bowling, I’m incredibly grateful for that and hopefully my output can be a little better than it has been. But today was a nice sign that things are trending well,” he offered, while also giving an idea of when he could possibly be back to bowling again.
“I’ve certainly had enough rest, so my back is not an issue, it’s more getting load ups now. It’ll be a steady progression and hopefully around a couple of the Shield games (I’ll be bowling), potentially one-dayers against India (in October), but those are all pretty far away, so we’ll wait and see.”
© Cricbuzz
