Craddock: Cam Green selection right call in battle for Test spot

The severe unrest coming from the western part of the country in defence of Cam Bancroft seems reasonable, until you realise who it comes at the expense of, writes ROBERT CRADDOCK.

Just as emotions were finally fading after Sandpapergate along comes Sandgropergate to set alight the summer.

The sandgroper state of Western Australia contains Australia’s most parochial fans but something strange happened this week when their local lad Cameron Bancroft got snubbed by the Australian selectors for the Test series against the West Indies.

The severe unrest from Broome to Busselton among former players, fans, player agents and radio announcers was not unexpected with allegations of yet another eastern states conspiracy flying in all directions.

But the more intense the debate became, the more poor Cameron Green must have felt like saying: “excuse me … what am I? A shallot?’’

Many of the arguments that WA had copped yet another rough deal were partially negated by the fact that Australia had moved heaven and earth – actually just Steve Smith – to fit in another Perth boy called Cameron, Green, and give him a chance to rebuild his Test career.

Steve Smith was promoted to opener instead of bringing in Bancroft. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)

Had Bancroft been recalled there would have been no space for Green, the better player with the brighter future.

In a team whose second youngest player is 29-year-old Marnus Labuschagne, 24-year-old Green sits alone in a generation where there has been no other breakout player, not simply of his age but in a broad age span which stretches four years either side of him.

That’s most unusual but it opens up a myriad of opportunities for Green and it’s why he deserves to be encouraged.

Greg Chappell reckons Green is a future Test captain and that he will grow from an unpretentious youngster into a leader of substance in the way that Steve Waugh and Steve Smith did before him.

Green’s still a developing player but he’s already scored one Test century in India – the same number that Ricky Ponting managed – and all-rounders traditionally take time to fully mature.

If Green ever did get to become first man through the gate it would be a deceptively big moment.

Western Australia have had only one home-raised Test skipper in Kim Hughes (Adam Gilchrist came from NSW) so Green’s recall is hugely significant.

Bancroft’s snubbing sparked heated commentary from the west. (AAP Image/Dave Hunt)

But for all of Green’s potential, WA fans are more consumed with the snubbing of Bancroft and the fears that he is still paying the price for falling out with the bowlers after the Sandpapergate affair.

Much like their angst over Justin Langer being squeezed out as team coach, WA fans are at their most passionate when they feel an injustice has been done to one of their finest.

Gilchrist and Ian Healy both tell stories about copping it from Perth crowds when they unseated local hero Tim Zoehrer from the Test and state teams.

Matthew Hayden smiles when he recalls his favourite career sledge which came from the Perth outer after he had just released his first cookbook.

“About time you scored some runs Hayden … and by the way your chicken casserole tastes like s***.’’

But that’s nothing to the sour taste that lingers after the Bancroft snub.

Originally published as Craddock: Cam Green selection right call in battle for Test spot