T20 World Cup: Cameron Green’s shock call-up leaves huge hole in Australian side

Australia has named Josh Inglis’ World Cup replacement - and it could have dire consequences for the defending champion.

Cameron Green has received a stunning call-up into Australia’s World Cup squad which puts the top order on instant notice.

The freak golf injury which has ruled Australia’s back-up gloveman Josh Inglis out of the World Cup created a major conundrum for selectors, but ultimately George Bailey and his panel have elected to go for all-rounder Green and gamble on No.1 wicketkeeper Matthew Wade not breaking any fingers.

It’s a risk to go into the tournament without a reserve keeper, but selectors have taken the odds to it that X-factor superstar Green provides greater overall tournament-winning venom to the Australian squad.

Australia’s top order is settled for Saturday’s opener against New Zealand, but all members are now officially on their toes following the inclusion of a rare talent in Green who is not only a match-winner with the bat but can also bowl four overs of rapid pace.

Green’s form was so explosive in the early part of the warm-up matches that critics were demanding he be shoehorned into the squad anyway, and although his call-up has come in unorthodox fashion – the 23-year-old immediately enhances Australia’s title credentials.

Australia didn’t carry a back-up wicketkeeper for Brad Haddin when they won the 2015 World Cup on Australian soil, and will again back the percentages that Wade won’t injure himself in a warm-up or during a match.

Cameron Green has be called into the Australian World Cup squad. Picture: Matt Roberts/Getty

“If you look back over World Cup selections there’s been plenty of times where Australia have gone with one frontline keeper in the squad, and I think that just gives greater flexibility to batting and bowling structures within the team,” McDonald said.

Glenn Maxwell and David Warner are now likely on standby to take the keeping gloves should there be a last-minute game-day emergency involving Wade.

However, if Wade was to injure himself before game day during the tournament, he can be replaced anyway – meaning the risk Australia is taking is minimal.

Green is not only back-up for all-rounders Mitchell Marsh and Marcus Stoinis, but Australia has shown it has confidence in him opening the batting.

Many scratched their heads at the logic behind Green opening ahead of captain Finch during three practice matches, but the wisdom appears justified now Green has stormed into the squad.

“We had all-rounders that are in doubt in Marcus Stoinis and Mitch Marsh,” McDonald said about why Green played ahead of Steve Smith and opened ahead of Finch against the West Indies and England.

“So as those pieces started to come back online, we were able to restabilise what things would look like in a perfect world with all 11 players getting there [fit].

“But we also had to plan and prepare around the fact that if we didn’t have Marcus and Mitch Marsh and we wanted to play seven batters, Cameron Green was going to be a key player around that.”

Josh Inglis is out of the World Cup. Picture: Quinn Rooney/Getty Images

RAINY MELBOURNE COULD COST CRICKET MILLIONS

World Cup organisers are staring down the barrel of a multimillion-dollar pay out and the loss of over 250 million viewers as Melbourne’s wild weather threatens one of the biggest sporting events on the planet.

Sunday’s blockbuster between India and Pakistan is a 100,000-seat sell-out at the MCG, but officials are nervously watching the bleak forecast hoping rain can stay away long enough for history to be made.

Organisers only need 10 overs to be bowled to constitute a match, but any less than that and fans would be entitled to a full refund costing millions.

Due to the cheap tickets initially offered tournament officials estimate about $4 million in refunds, although a portion of that would be insured preventing a major financial loss for just one game.

Virat Kohli’s India and Pakistan contest promises to be one of the most viewed games on the globe this year.

On television, the clash of the cricketing titans is a global ratings phenomenon to rival the US Superbowl and other major events.

When the two sides clashed in Australia for the 2015 ODI World Cup, 229 million fans tuned in across the world, while India and Pakistan’s recent match in the Asian Cup pulled a staggering 225 million TV and digital viewers.

Officials are facing a similarly anxious wait for the Super 12s opener at the SCG on Saturday night between Australia and New Zealand — also a sell-out, with Sydney’s forecast looking wet.

If Australia kick the bucket in this World Cup though it won’t be due to a lack of preparation from spinning star Adam Zampa.

The wicket-taking machine revealed he practices for rain and dew affected matches by dunking balls in a bucket of water at training to master the art of gripping a damp kookaburra.

“It’s all about preparation. I feel like every time we’re at the SCG we’re looking for rain to come because it always seems that way,” Zampa said.

Adam Zampa has devised a special way to deal with a wet ball during the T20 World Cup.

“I know there might be some rain around and might even be some dew if we bowl second. The way I train I always have that in the back of mind.

“I usually have a bucket or something I’ll drop the ball into to prepare for that. So it’s all about getting ready for it.”

Zampa said he actually looks forward to damp conditions in Australia because it can enhance the wickets for spinners.

“If there is some weather around and some juice in the wicket it’ll help the spinners,” he said.

“As a spinner if there is a bit of juice in the deck you almost hope for that. There’s definitely a role to play (for spin) if there is some juice in the wicket.”