Ashes 2021/22: Australia must stick by Cameron Green through thick and thin, says Robert Craddock

Last summer Cameron Green was great with the bat but couldn’t buy a wicket. This summer it is the reverse. But don’t even think about dropping him.

There’s been plenty of moving parts in the Australian cricket team this summer, but one rule must stand. Cameron Green should play every Test.

Last summer Green’s batting was sound, but he could not take a wicket. This year he is among the wickets but can’t score a run and looks genuinely down on confidence with the bat.

He is now averaging in the mid-20s per Test wicket and per Test batting innings, which means his bowling is going just fine and his batting is struggling.

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Cameron Green has been a revelation with the ball during The Ashes.

It’s no big deal. What Green has proved in his two seasons is that – at his best – he could play as a batsman or bowler in Test cricket and that makes him potentially the rarest cricketer of all.

Australia has not had a high quality one of these since Keith Miller 70 years ago.

Green deserves every bit of patience and encouragement Australia can throw at him.

So long as Green is chipping in with one skill he is growing and learning, as Australia is desperate for him to do to ensure Project Green is a success.

He has a habit of chipping in for big wickets like Dawid Malan’s at the SCG, caught at leg gully by Usman Khawaja.

Green made life very uncomfortable for Ben Stokes.

Stokes was in the wars when facing the hostile Green.

Green should have had Ben Stokes wicket when he got an in-dipper to clip Stokes’ off-stump without removing the bail.

Then he roughed up Stokes by hitting him in the fingers. You could just tell Stokes was thinking “this kid can play.’’

None of it would surprise Nathan Lyon who watches Green’s work from side-on in the field and is staggered by the bounce he gets.

Statistics show that Green has been the second fastest Australian bowler of the summer and has got as much bounce as most of his illustrious teammates.

If this Australian team is to take the leap from being good to great, Green almost has to be the pivotal player, which is why he had to be an ever-present choice no matter what his form says.

Green knocked over Dawid Malan cheaply on day three at the SCG.

If Australia is to fulfil its dream of beating India in India and England in England, it almost has to be because Green’s presence allowed them to play two spinners in India and four fast men in England.

When Steve Waugh’s mighty Australian unit was storming its way to 16 Test wins in a row at the start of the century, the only thing they lacked was a player like Green.

All-rounders almost always take time to develop.

Steve Waugh was a modern great but after 22 Tests he was averaging just 28 with the bat.

Andrew Flintoff became an England icon yet was a slow burning success story who, after 20 Tests, averaged 20 with the bat and more than 40 per wicket with the ball.

Green can’t seemingly buy a run at the moment.

But he got there.

The great Richie Benaud also took many years to fulfil his potential.

Even Green’s greatest supporter, Greg Chappell, has always said that the definition of a Test all-rounder “was someone who can hold their place on one skill with the other lesser skill a bonus.’’

Chappell had virtually written off the chances of finding another Miller who could hold their place on either skill which Green might do in time.

Originally published as Ashes 2021/22: Australia must stick by Cameron Green through thick and thin, says Robert Craddock