Cameron Green outpoints Burns, Pucovski, Harris

All eyes are on the top order but a Cameron Green century overshadowed failures by Joe Burns, Will Pucovski and Marcus Harris.

Australia A's Cameron Green on his way to a century against India at Drummoyne Oval. Picture: Phil Hillyard

Joe Burns failed to calm concerns, Will Pucovski failed to further confirm potential, Marcus Harris threatened but failed to gazump one or the other. Cameron Green, however, held his ground with an unbeaten century for Australia A that demonstrated why Greg Chappell recently described him as the best prospect since Ricky Ponting.

Batting in the shadow of the light stands at Drummoyne Oval in Sydney, the tall 21-year-old used his long levers to drive Umesh Yadav through covers to bring up the milestone as Jackson Bird scrambled to get his pads on in the dressing room.

Five balls earlier Green had attempted a quick single to bring up the 100 but was denied when Michael Neser was run out short of his ground.

Australia was only eight wickets down but Bird, who has torn a calf, was not in his whites or padded up until he realised the situation.

The fast bowler dashed down the steps to get his gear lest Mark Steketee at the other end be dismissed but was not needed.

Green has made a habit of embracing any chance that comes his way. Initially considered a bowling allrounder, he moved up the order last year after stress fractures stopped him bowling and piled on the runs.

The young star is 198cm tall and by rights should not be so contained at the wicket as he is, but his technique and temperament are excellent. The Indian quicks tested him with short balls but he managed to handle everything thrown at him.

The same could not be said of his teammates on the day as each struggled to handle Umesh Yadav and Mohammed Siraj — both of whom are in consideration for next week’s first Test.

It is only one innings of one tour match, but with an openers slot wide open given the probable absence of David Warner every opportunity counts.

Burns and Pucovski are in the Test squad and opened the batting on Tuesday in Australia A’s match against the Indians.

It was supposed to be a teaser ahead of the first Test in Adelaide on December 17, but it was a disappointing show by the top order.

Pucovski was patient and looked in control for most of the first 22 deliveries he faced. When he was tested he responded calmly and while he had only scored a solitary single he did not seem concerned. Unfortunately for the 22-year-old his first aggressive shot — a square cut — was caught at that position by Shubman Gill.

Joe Burns and Will Pucovski together before both fell cheaply. Picture: Phil Hillyard

It was not an atrocious shot, but it had him back in the pavilion and well short of the 200 mark he had passed twice in earlier Sheffield Shield innings.

Pucovski should not be too concerned. He is an exceptional talent and it will take more than a failure in one tour match to deny him a place in the Test team.

Burns has been consistently backed by selector Trevor Hohns and coach Justin Langer but his run of outs this summer must be shaking their faith.

Since the start of summer Burns has first class scores of 7, 29, 0, 10 and 11.

That low yield continued on Monday when he failed to get his bat out of the way of a short delivery from Yadav and was caught behind for just 4.

Harris, who shared in a Sheffield Shield record partnership with Pucovski on his way to his own double century, was forced to bat at No 3 which seems appropriate as he is not in the Test squad.

He has worked hard on his game and looked good in partnership with Australian middle order batsman Travis Head, but the latter gave his wicket away with an inside edge onto the stumps when on 18 just before lunch.

Harris fell to a sharp slips catch soon after for a solid 35 from 60 balls but he needed to go on if he was to send a message to Hohns who was watching from the team rooms.

Green did himself no harm by teaming up with Test captain Tim Paine for a century partnership in the middle of the day.

Paine was well caught at square leg for 44 and will be happy with the time he spent in the middle.

Green bowled eight overs in the first innings and is slowly working up to the place where he could be relied on to play as an all rounder but it has been made clear he could qualify for Test cricket as a batsman alone.