Green might be short of runs, but he’s standing tall as a wicket-taking game-breaker, claiming the big two scalps of Joe Root and Ben Stokes on the most influential day of his young Test career.
The 22-year-old all-rounder was on an international flight when Stokes traumatised Australia at Headingley in 2019, but now there’s a new sheriff in town.
Catch every moment of The Ashes live and ad-break free during play on Kayo. New to Kayo? Try 14-days free now.
Mitchell Starc also reinforced why he is the undisputed world heavyweight champion of day-night Test cricket, as he became the first bowler to 50 pink ball wickets (at 18.1) and overtook Jason Gillespie (259) on the list of Australia’s greatest ever wicket-takers (262).
Australia opted against enforcing the follow-on when they bowled England out for 236 to claim a first innings lead of 237, and chose to instead demoralise Root’s Dad’s Army attack even further until an inexplicable run-out of David Warner put a slight dampener on an otherwise one-way procession.
Run-out mishap aside, Harris (21 not out) survived an hour and 10 minutes under lights to show character under fire with Australia 1-45 at stumps and well on their way to batting themselves into an unassailable position on day four 282 runs ahead and with England sentenced to another day of physical and mental torture.
Earlier, Root (62) and Dawid Malan (80) took advantage of a flat Adelaide wicket to pile on the runs and gift England a rare victory in the opening session of day three, only for the Green monster to rise and smother the England skipper with a spell which confirmed that the hype around the special West Australian talent is very much real.
Former captain Ricky Ponting picked apart Green’s batting technique following another low score on day two, but another Ashes great Michael Vaughan saw enough of the 1.92m colossus with the ball to suggest a once-in-a-generation Ashes force has arrived.
“Cam Green reminds of a young Freddie Flintoff with the ball,” said Fox Cricket expert Vaughan in what is really the ultimate compliment as someone who captained England’s 2005 Ashes hero.
In a brilliant spell delivered in trying conditions, Green bowled seven overs either side of the first break to claim figures of 1-17 with three maidens.
Spinner Nathan Lyon (3-58) joined Green in putting the clamps on and maintained the pressure from the other end with a three-over burst of 0-4 including three maidens.
In total, the combined onslaught lasted six consecutive maidens.
Root and Malan had piled on a century stand, but the dam wall burst when Green got the England captain edging in a carbon copy of how he got him at a similarly key moment at the Gabba when England were also threatening to fight their way back into the contest.
Green should have had Ollie Robinson if not for the first and only dropped catch by Australia this series, but then clean bowled Stokes for 34 to send shudders through the England camp about the superstar he might be when his batting clicks at Test level.
Starc (4-37) was predictably lethal, as he ended Malan’s innings, consigned England to further disaster and received a tip of the cap from Gillespie who promised to toast being leapfrogged by the left-arm destroyer in the record books.
Lyon thought he had England No.6 Ollie Pope caught at short leg only for a DRS referral to save the batsman’s bacon – but two balls later he was gone anyway thanks to a superb sharp catch from Marnus Labuschagne in that same position.
Starc struck again to have Jos Buttler caught by another safe pair of hands, David Warner, at first slip, as the Australian machine clicked into gear with Headingley Houdini Ben Stokes (12 not out off 71 balls) and Chris Woakes (23 not out) the last line of defence.
The two men who had Root under the thumb were forced to watch on from Sydney as the captain left Michael Clarke in his wake in what has been a year for the ages for the England captain.
Root relished in the absence of Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood to surpass the great Sachin Tendulkar and Clarke on the list of highest run-scorers ever in a calendar year as Jhye Richardson 0-66 endured a difficult return to the Test arena.
For the second time in two matches, captain Root and partner in crime Malan stood up to be counted when their team needed them the most, but the brave stand didn’t last nearly long enough.
Root passed Tendulkar’s mark of 1562 runs in 2010 and then mowed down Clarke (1595 in 2012), as he moved beyond 1600 runs to sit fourth on the all-time list behind Mohammad Yousuf (1788), Viv Richards (1710) and Graeme Smith (1656).
Resuming at 2-17, Australia failed to find a wicket in the opening session as England hit the accelerator and showed outstanding intent to be 2-140 at the main break.
Updates
Another great day for Australia – especially considering how well England played through the first session.
But the finish day three with a lead of 282 and again in a dominant position – as they have been at the end of most days of this series.
They were dealt a late blow thanks to a calamitous runout which cost David Warner (13) his wicket.
But Marcus Harris survives to stumps on 21, with Australia 1-45.
Harris will return tomorrow, alongside debutant Michael Neser, with Australia looking to build the sort of total that England simply can't reel in. Some might argue they already have enough, but that might be a little unkind.
Today was all about Mitchell Starc (four wickets) and Nathan Lyon (three) as they dismantled England's middle order, following the stoic work of Joe Root and Dawid Malan earlier.
But once Root fell, at the hands of Cameron Green, it was a steady procession back to the pavilion.
Will England show more fight on Sunday? Or will Australia tighten their grip on a 2-0 lead?
You'll have to join us tomorrow to find out. Catch you then!
David Warner has been run-out in a shocking mixup – he goes for 13.
They'd batted so well, and were closing in on stumps, but it's a huge mix-up as Harris nudges one to the onside and Warner, at the non-striker's end, makes the age-old error of 'yes, no, maybe'.
Both batsmen start then stop, and then start both running for the bowler's end – and Harris wins, with Warner pulling out, perhaps recognising it was his call and his error.
Australia 1-41, with a lead of 278.
Michael Neser in as nightwatchman.
This has been almost as dispiriting for England as it would've been had they been sent in to bat and lost both openers.
David Warner and Marcus Harris have shown England what is capable on this wicket if you apply yourself – with 20 minutes left in the day, Australia are 0-40 and England have tried four bowlers without any impact so far.
Ollie Robinson looks fatigued, certainly not the bowler he was at the Gabba. Chris Woakes, even with the pink ball under lights, is a shell of the bowler he so frequently is on home soil.
Ben Stokes looks hobbled.
Stuart Broad and Jimmy Anderson started brightly, but couldn't find the wicket England craved for a sugar hit to give them some hope heading into day four.
But at the moment, there is no sugar hit and there is no hope. The 50-run partnership is looming on the horizon. Harris (21) and Warner (12) look comfortable.
There's still two days to play, and so much can change, but England are staring down the barrel of Australia holding a 2-0 Ashes lead heading to Boxing Day.
A penny for Joe Root's thoughts….
Speaking of Root, he's going to have a bowl. Inspired by Nathan Lyon's performance today, perhaps?
Best case scenario, what is Australia's plan for the rest of the Test?
Obviously getting through to stumps without sacrificing too many – or any – wickets is the first priority.
Even with some very modest runscoring tonight, the lead should get up to around 270 (it's currently 254) – with a view to returning with the sun out, and the ball a bit softer, and pushing on to set a target of 450+ with at least four sessions to bowl at England.
Seven overs down tonight and Harris and Warner have done well to nullify the new ball from Anderson and Broad, and we've seen a change already – Ollie Robinson comes in to replace Broad.
Four overs down, and this has been a wonderful battle so far.
Jimmy Anderson has kept to David Warner scoreless across two overs, swinging the ball both ways and having the opener playing and missing with both edges of the bat.
Marcus Harris looks like a man fighting for his career – playing compact and keeping Stuart Broad quiet, while picking up three runs with flicks off the pads.
Less than an hour to play tonight, and Australia is going to have to work damn hard to get through unscathed.
Perhaps a curious decision from Australia to send their openers out to face the new pink ball under lights – I don't imagine England are unhappy with that decision – but I accept it's largely done to protect the fitness of your fast bowlers.
It has, however, put Marcus Harris in a tough spot. Jimmy Anderson is a fantastic pink-ball bowler and gets the ball to move both ways. Stuart Broad is also extremely dangerous, as he showed by removing Harris for 4 in the first innings.
Harris is legitimately fighting for his career – and couldn't ask for a tougher challenge.
Should he be standing up at stumps, it will be an enormous confidence boost – and something selectors can hang onto should they want to keep the faith in the out-of-sorts Victorian for Boxing Day.
But another cheap dismissal…. it won't look good on the resume.
Stuart Broad is the final man to four, trying to hit Starc over extra cover.
But he can't get enough on it, and it skies to Travis Head giving Starc a four-wicket haul.
England are all out for 236, giving Australia a first-innings lead of 237 – they have the opportunity to enforce the follow-on, but Marcus Harris and David Warner sprint off the field.
They'll be batting on, it seems, and building a total and giving their fast bowlers a rest before pushing on for a potential victory late tomorrow you'd imagine.
The short-ball stuff is definitely not enjoyable for England's veteran fast bowlers – but Stuart Broad has just picked up a six, with a little assist from Mitchell Starc.
Jhye Richardson sent down another bouncer, and Broad – backing away – beautifully hooked him behind square.
Starc looked to have it covered, but as he tracked back to take the catch – which he held – he tripped himself up on the boundary rope.
This final pair are adding some runs, taking 11 off that Richardson over. At some point the silliness must end, and the quicks should aim for the stumps for a change.
Some concern for Stuart Broad who has taken a blow to the helmet after a short-ball from Jhye Richardson – it's a nasty, nasty bouncer.
This has been a tactic from Australia's bowlers at opposition tails in recent years, intimidating the lower-order batsmen with short-pitched bowling.
It can be ugly to watch, but it goes both ways – and England won't shy away from dishing out similar treatment to the Aussie tail when they next get a chance.
But there's been a fair delay while Broad gets a new helmet and is ready to crack on after a moment with the team medico.
All Australia needed was Cameron Green all along!
Stokes goes for 34, and his entertaining cameo – that gave the hint of having some Headingley heroics about it – comes to an end.
This time, an inside edge doesn't evade the stumps and England is one wicket away from potentially being asked to follow-on.
They trail by 253… and the artificial lights have well and truly taken over.
