Cameron Green to face pink ball for the first time as Test debut looms

Cameron Green faced Indian bowlers for the first time and made a hundred as momentum builds towards a Test debut. However, a new challenge lies ahead.

Cameron Green took two wickets for Australia A to add to his century with the bat. Picture: Getty Images

Cameron Green stared down the challenge of facing international bowling for the first time for Australia A and scored a century against India to enhance his growing Test credentials.

But the boom all-rounder revealed an all-new challenge awaits this week when he faces a pink ball for the first time against what could be a near full-strength Indian attack.

With injuries mounting and calls for his Test inclusion growing, another big score in the day-night match at the SCG starting Friday could build too much momentum for Australian selectors to resist.

Watch Australia v India Test Series Live & Ad-Break Free During Play with the Fox Cricket commentary team. New to Kayo? Get your free trial now & start streaming instantly >

Praised by a host of experts for batting plans against Indian bowlers he had never faced before, Green said getting ready for the pink ball added a new element to his push for a Test spot.

“I’ve never faced a pink ball before. For whatever reason I keep dodging the day-night games in domestic cricket,” he said on Wednesday.

”I’ll have a training session today (Wednesday) and that will be the first time I have ever faced it or bowled with it. That will be pretty interesting.

“I’ve spoken to a few guys and they say if you are batting at night but you are already in, it’s OK. it’s just when you are new to the crease that it’s tough.

“There’s a lot of guys I can talk to sort out new plans.”

The first Test in Adelaide will be a pink-ball game although Green conceded the potential openings at the top of the order was “not the position I am vying for”.

The job for Australia’s Test selectors just got a lot harder with news. David Warner has been officially ruled out of the first Test@BenHorne8 has that and the latest on Will Pucovski https://t.co/4BWab0BLXF

— News Cricket (@NewsCorpCricket) December 8, 2020

Green has been exceptional throughout the summer batting in the middle order, scoring 363 runs at an average of 72.60, with two centuries, his second coming against the Indians.

He conceded it was a “step up” facing the likes of Indian fast bowler Umesh Yadav and spinner Ravi Ashwin, who have over 500 Test wickets between them, in the last game.

Neither managed to get him out, but Green didn’t know if that meant he was ready for Test cricket.

“It was more of a challenge because I hadn’t really seen those bowlers bowl before. That took a little bit of time to get used to,” he said.

“It was still a little bit of a step up. You could tell the world class skill of Umesh Yadav, he was bowling down breeze on a wicket that had a bit in it for them. that was incredibly tough.

“I’m sure most guys would say the same, but you are never really know if you are ready (for Test cricket).

“All I can do is play well in the next game. It’s going to be another big challenge, facing a full-strength Indian side, against the pink-ball. I’ll just keep trying to perform.”

After scoring a century for Australia A against India, all-rounder Cameron Green will face a pink ball for the first time this weekend as he presses for a Test spot. Picture: Phil Hillyard

Green said he hadn’t had “too many” discussions with Australian coach, and selector, Justin Langer after his innings.

And he wasn’t getting lost in the hype that continues to grow with some calling Green a once-in-a-generation player.

“I try and avoid it as much as I can,” he said.

“You read nice articles about yourself but people say you are never as good as what they say, and if you read a bad article you are never as bad as they say.

“I‘ll see how I go, just keep trying to perform ”