Cameron Green will be released from Australia’s white ball squad to focus on potential Test debut

Many were shocked when Cameron Green didn’t replace Marcus Stoinis in the second ODI squad. Where does this leave the young gun?

Cameron Green was in the mix for the second ODI. Picture: Getty Images

All-round prodigy Cameron Green is set to be released from Australia’s white ball squad later this week and allowed to focus all his energy on pushing for a Test debut.

Green is expected to be parachuted into the Australia A side that will take on India A in a first-class match at Drummoyne Oval next Saturday, rather than staying around for the Twenty20 internationals.

He is still set to travel with the white ball squad to Canberra ahead of Wednesday’s final ODI, but will return to Sydney after to join up with the Australia A side to be skippered by Test captain Tim Paine in a three-day game.

There was some shock expressed on Sunday when selectors opted for Moises Henriques as Marcus Stoinis’ injury replacement in the second ODI, rather than using it as a chance to blood 21-year-old Green for his first taste of international cricket.

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Cameron Green missed selection in the second ODI. Picture: Phil Hillyard

Fox Cricket expert Adam Gilchrist said it would have been the “perfect time” to inject the young star into the limited overs set-up.

However, ODI captain Aaron Finch said on Sunday that Green needs more bowling overs under his belt before being considered for international cricket.

“Cam has been bowling a little bit but hasn’t gone to that next level in the amount of overs he has bowled just yet,” said Finch.

Green would appear to be at long odds to play the first Test of the summer against India on December 17 in Adelaide with Travis Head and Matthew Wade entrenched as middle-order stars.

However, two Australia A matches against the Indians in the meantime gives Green the chance to properly build his bowling levels up to a point where coach Justin Langer and selectors might be comfortable to unleash him later in the Test summer at the MCG or SCG.

Green’s limited overs record isn’t anything flash at this point, so there may also be a feeling that in the lead-up to potentially breaking into the Test team he’s better left out of the white ball formats and kept on a red ball diet which he has thrived on.

The two-metre talent suffered back stress fracture issues last summer and only returned to bowling midway through this year.

Josh Hazlewood and Cameron Green share a joke before the second ODI. Picture: Getty Images

Australia’s coaches have been working closely with Western Australia’s coaching staff to ensure Green isn’t pushed too far before his body is ready.

Green bowled a select amount of overs in two Sheffield Shield matches for Western Australia last month and now has the chance for two more first-class hit-outs before the Test summer.

It’s now expected he will play both the Drummoyne Oval Australia A match starting next Saturday, and then the pink ball match against a full-strength Indian outfit at the SCG starting on December 11.