West Australian all-rounder Cameron Green has candidly discussed the heightened pressure of performing on home soil, with his position in the Australian Test side hanging in the balance ahead of the final Ashes match in Sydney.
Frustrating dismissals amplify selection headache
The 26-year-old managed scores of just 17 and 19 during the two-day Boxing Day Test at the MCG, drawing sharp criticism for his manner of dismissal on both occasions. In the first innings, he was run out attempting an ambitious single, while in the second he was caught behind slashing at a wide delivery from England's Ben Stokes. To compound matters, Green bowled a mere five balls in the entire match.
This underwhelming performance follows his demotion in the batting order from number five to number seven earlier in the series. His returns for the current Ashes campaign are meagre, with 112 runs at an average of 18.66. "It's OK, not the runs I would have wanted this series," Green admitted to the ABC. "But as a team we only had one goal and that was to win the Ashes, so it didn't matter who put their hand up."
The home ground hurdle and a restless batting order
Green identified the unique challenge of playing in front of Australian crowds, confessing it took him time to adapt. "Probably at the start of my career I was really nervous playing at home," he said. "There is more expectation, a home crowd, and I really took a while to get used to that."
His Test record starkly highlights the disparity. From 57 Test innings, Green has scored two centuries – both overseas. His maiden ton came in Ahmedabad, India in 2023, and his second secured a victory for Australia in Wellington, New Zealand early last year. Furthermore, his role has been far from settled; since the start of 2024, he has batted in every position from three to eight in the order.
The criticism has been swift and severe. Former Australian batsman and fellow West Australian Simon Katich labelled Green's second-innings shot at the MCG as "predetermined rubbish". This followed earlier scrutiny for a reckless shot in the Brisbane Test under lights.
Backing from the captain, but competition waits
Despite the external noise, stand-in captain Steve Smith expressed faith in Green's ability. "Greeny, he's had a few nice starts as well, just hasn't been able to go on with it and get the results he's been after," Smith said. "But we know he's a quality player. He's done it against some good oppositions in the past and hopefully he can turn it around."
The pressure on Green's spot is tangible, with reliable all-rounder Beau Webster waiting in the wings. Webster, who was released from the Test squad to play a Big Bash League match for the Hobart Hurricanes, will rejoin the squad in Sydney and is considered the most likely replacement should selectors make a change.
As one of Australian cricket's most significant long-term investments and the only player in the current XI under the age of 30, the decision on Green's immediate future is a major one for the national panel. All eyes will be on the SCG to see if he can finally convert a promising start into a match-defining score on home turf.
