Australian cricket legends Ian Healy and Mark Taylor have declared that all-rounder Cameron Green should not be selected for the first Ashes Test if he is not fit to bowl. Green underwent major back surgery in October last year and has had his return to bowling delayed by a side strain after bowling only four overs in Western Australia's first Sheffield Shield match this season.
Healy stated that Green needs to bowl 10 overs a day in the upcoming Shield game against Queensland to prove his fitness. “Cameron Green needs to bowl 10 overs a day in the Shield game, and that’s all he has to do in the Aussie team to support the work of those three fast men,” Healy told SEN. “But he’s only bowled four overs this season, and at this stage, I’m saying Cameron Green shouldn’t be in our Test team if he’s not bowling.”
Taylor echoed Healy's sentiments, suggesting that all-rounder Beau Webster deserves selection if Green cannot bowl. “If Cam’s not bowling, then I think Beau Webster deserves to be selected. If Cam is bowling and can bowl 10-15 overs, then I think Beau will miss out and he’d be very unlucky to miss out,” Taylor said. He also backed uncapped opener Jake Weatherald for a Test debut, citing his consistent performances in domestic cricket and the Big Bash League.
Australian captain Pat Cummins, who will miss the first Test due to a back injury, hinted that Green might play regardless of his bowling capacity. “I haven’t spoken to him but I know he’s going to bowl this Shield game. Hopefully he’ll be right,” Cummins said. “Look, it’ll be great. He is an all-rounder. He’s a huge asset whenever he can bowl but I don’t think it’s the most important thing in the world.”
Green is expected to bowl between 15 and 20 overs against Queensland next week in the final Shield match before the Ashes opener. He batted at No. 3 in recent Tests, scoring 188 runs across eight innings in challenging conditions.
