Cam Green to miss T20 series in New Zealand to prepare for Test series

Cam Green’s return to the Test side at number four didn’t plan out as well as hoped against the West Indies. Now, selectors are set to prioritise the longer format before the NZ series.

Cameron Green is set to miss the start of Australia’s tour of New Zealand with national selectors prioritising his need to play more red-ball cricket over being a fringe member of the national Twenty20 side.

Having been recalled to the Test side for last month’s two Tests against the West Indies, Green has been earmarked to bat at No. 3 in Friday’s first one-day international against the Windies at the MCG.

His involvement in the three-match ODI series rules the all-rounder out of the upcoming Sheffield Shield round, during which Green’s Western Australia takes on NSW at the WACA.

But having been left out of the Aussie T20 squad for the three-match series against the Windies, Green is also likely to be left out of the three T20s in New Zealand, beginning in Wellington on February 21.

Green will play for WA before the series in New Zealand. (Photo by Pat Hoelscher / AFP)

Instead, the selection panel of George Bailey, Tony Dodemaide and Andrew McDonald wants Green to play WA’s Shield game against Tasmania in Hobart which begins on February 16.

That is the only first-class cricket Green could realistically play before Australia’s defence of the Trans-Tasman Trophy begins at the Basin Reserve on February 29.

Having been bumped from the Test side after the resurgence of Mitch Marsh, and behind Marnus Labuschagne and Marcus Stoinis during the World Cup, Green spent much of the back half of 2023 on the road with the national side but not playing much cricket.

He played one Shield match in Brisbane on return from the World Cup as well as the Prime Minister’s XI clash in Canberra before his Test recall, making 64 runs across three innings in his new spot at No. 4 as well as taking two wickets and making his presence felt at gully.

Green said ahead of Wednesday night’s Australian Cricket Awards that he was looking forward to playing the Shield match.

“Yeah, that’s the plan at the moment. Always love playing for WA and yeah, always a great chance to get some more red-ball practice in. So yeah looking forward to it,’ Green said.

“It’s been a pretty tough couple of years on the road. So at the time was good to have a rest but I think it was about time to start playing cricket again. So it’s been good fun.”

Green has returned to fill the void at number four. (Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images)

On the one-day series, Green said: “It’s always another opportunity to represent Australia so you just want to enjoy your time. But obviously you want more success. That’s what we’re always striving for.”

Marnus Labuschagne is in a similar boat to Green, with the former No. 1-ranked Test batter likely to play for Queensland against South Australia in mid-February Shield round following his involvement with the one-day squad.

That Green will miss Australia’s T20 series does not rule him out of still making the squad for the T20 World Cup in June, with selectors to take Indian Premier League form into account.

Green was traded from the Mumbai Indians to the Royal Challengers Bangalore last year.

“I think he’s a pretty special player in that in that format. He’s someone who’s going to go to the IPL so we were gonna get a really good look at him,” Bailey said last week.

“For him, it’s just balancing as it is for all for all-format players at different times balancing what the priorities.”

He hasn’t played a T20 international since Australia’s World Cup win over Afghanistan in November, 2022.

Originally published as Cam Green to miss T20 series in New Zealand to prepare for Test series