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‘A big call’: Warner fears IPL workload could take heavy toll on Green
By Malcolm Conn
As Cameron Green prepares to play his first home Test in Perth, David Warner says he fears Australia’s most exciting young allrounder may be harmed by a relentless schedule.
Already three months into a virtually continuous run that will not end until well into 2024, Warner questioned how Green, 23, would manage his first IPL between tours of India and England, with a white-ball series in South Africa and a 50-over World Cup in India to follow, before the start of another Australian season.
“Nineteen weeks straight in India, being your first trip there as well, can be quite challenging - from the heat perspective, the playing, the recovery,” Warner said at Perth’s City Beach on Monday, where the Test series against the West Indies was officially launched. The first Test starts at Perth Stadium on Wednesday.
“I’ve been through it, I’ve done the Test series and the IPL. It is tough. Then on the back of that you’ve got five Test matches in England. Then I think you’ve got 20 days off before you go to South Africa and then go to a World Cup.
“Glenn Maxwell did it a couple of years ago, played the whole year and then was cooked come the [Australian] season.
“From a youngster’s point of view it’s totally up to him, it’s his decision to make. For the longevity of him and his career, it’s a big call for him as a youngster. Whatever decision he goes with we’ll respect it as players. But ultimately, it’s down to him and CA.”
Cameron Green launching the West Indies Test series at City Beach, Perth, with Usman Khawaja, David Warner and juniors from Green’s local club Subiaco-Floreat.Credit: Getty Images
Green says he has the blessing of Australian coach Andrew McDonald and chairman of selectors George Bailey to play in the IPL. Test and one-day captain Pat Cummins has pulled out of the competition because of the heavy workload with the Australian team.
“I’ve had really good chats with those guys, and they are really open to me going,” Green said. “Obviously, you go into a pretty cool environment where you are around all the best players in the world and the best coaching staff.
“You have all the facilities to bat all day if you really want to and learn about your game. I think it’s just a really good environment to learn about your cricket and hopefully a lot of things I can take back with me and share with guys in Australia.
“It’s going to be a really tough year. I don’t think anyone is disagreeing with that. But it’s a really good opportunity, I think. If you’re playing all three formats and IPL you’re going to be learning a lot about your cricket.
David Warner celebrates scoring a one-day century during last week’s match against England in Melbourne.Credit: Getty Images
“You might get pushed a little bit with your body. I back that in that I have good resources and around me to get through that. And doing everything you can to look after your body and have rests within that. It will be a tough year.”
Australia’s last genuine seam-bowling allrounder, Shane Watson, constantly struggled to stay fit, playing 59 Tests but missing as many through injury.
Tall and athletic, Green had been plagued with back problems since he was 15 but says he has been injury-free in recent years.
In his debut Test season against India two summers ago, Green bowled 44 overs in four Tests without taking a wicket. But he approached last summer with much greater freedom and claimed 13 wickets at an average under 16 in five Tests against England.
Western Australia’s Covid lockdown left Perth without Test cricket for the past two seasons and Green waiting for a chance to play in his home state before friends and family.
However, Perth Stadium is not home for him, it is the WACA Ground across the river where the Australians have trained during the past three days.
This has left Green stepping into the unknown. He has played just one first class match at the stadium and a handful of Twenty20 matches.
“It feels weird that you are playing a home game, but not at your home. Everyone expects you to do well and be used to the conditions, but I feel like some other guys are more used to it than I am. So it will be a challenge,” Green said.