NEW DELHI: All-rounder Cameron Green stood poised on the verge of the T20 World Cup 2024, exuding confidence in his ability to fulfill various roles for Australia. This confidence was hard-earned, cultivated in the intense atmosphere of the Indian Premier League (IPL), where he had recently wrapped up an outstanding stint with the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB).
During RCB’s late surge into the playoffs, Green delivered crucial performances, showcasing scores of 37*, 1, 46, 32*, 38*, and 27.While primarily occupying positions from No.4 to No.6 in the batting order, Green demonstrated his adaptability by stepping up to No.3 in the final match when Will Jacks was unavailable.
Under the tutelage of RCB’s batting coach, Neil McKenzie, Green’s batting had evolved significantly, not only refining his skills but also instilling a newfound sense of confidence in his abilities.
“I think that’s the beauty of what I’ve been exposed to in the last few years, there’s never been a really consistent spot to really lock in but at the same time I’m pretty thankful for that,” Green told reporters on Tuesday. “Feels like I can jump in at many different roles, [I] think that’s where I see myself this tournament, maybe plugging holes in the team. It’s a pretty good team to get into. Wherever I got told I’m playing [I] think I’ve got a bit of confidence and an idea of where to bat anyway,” he said.
Green’s insights into the different demands of batting positions are profound. “It’s pretty different when you bat up [in] the top [order], two fielders out at the start, you can play pretty proper cricket. Maybe it took me a while to really work out how to go about it [in the middle order]. You can still give yourself 10 balls to kind of get yourself in, where sometimes when you are inexperienced, it doesn’t feel like you have 10 balls.”
As the T20 World Cup drew near, Green understood that earning a spot in the starting XI wouldn’t be straightforward. With seasoned players like Marcus Stoinis in contention, Australia’s strategy remained flexible, potentially accommodating eight batters if conditions warranted such a lineup.
In this scenario, Green’s bowling prowess would be pivotal. His IPL experience had equipped him to handle pressure, evident in his impressive economy rate of under nine.
Green’s journey to this juncture had been carefully managed by Australia, particularly after a demanding 2023. The transition from the IPL to the Test tour of England had presented challenges, resulting in a temporary absence from the Test side.
Nevertheless, his resilience came to the fore when he was recalled for the series against the West Indies following David Warner‘s retirement. Rather than participating in T20Is against New Zealand, selectors directed him to focus on Sheffield Shield cricket, a decision validated by his superb innings of 174 not out in Wellington.
“I’ve definitely noticed [the difference], this is probably the most prepared I’ve been for some sort of tour,” he said.
“You always move from a Test tour into a T20, a T20 into a Test tour so it’s pretty extreme but that’s the beauty of the IPL this year is you actually got some unbelievable practice leading into this.
“It’s a fine balance, seeing if you can prioritise some sort of tournament before others. With that T20 [series against New Zealand] we had the IPL after so they thought maybe more beneficial to stick with red-ball cricket for that summer, but that will chop and change,” he added.
(With IANS inputs)
During RCB’s late surge into the playoffs, Green delivered crucial performances, showcasing scores of 37*, 1, 46, 32*, 38*, and 27.While primarily occupying positions from No.4 to No.6 in the batting order, Green demonstrated his adaptability by stepping up to No.3 in the final match when Will Jacks was unavailable.
Under the tutelage of RCB’s batting coach, Neil McKenzie, Green’s batting had evolved significantly, not only refining his skills but also instilling a newfound sense of confidence in his abilities.
“I think that’s the beauty of what I’ve been exposed to in the last few years, there’s never been a really consistent spot to really lock in but at the same time I’m pretty thankful for that,” Green told reporters on Tuesday. “Feels like I can jump in at many different roles, [I] think that’s where I see myself this tournament, maybe plugging holes in the team. It’s a pretty good team to get into. Wherever I got told I’m playing [I] think I’ve got a bit of confidence and an idea of where to bat anyway,” he said.
Green’s insights into the different demands of batting positions are profound. “It’s pretty different when you bat up [in] the top [order], two fielders out at the start, you can play pretty proper cricket. Maybe it took me a while to really work out how to go about it [in the middle order]. You can still give yourself 10 balls to kind of get yourself in, where sometimes when you are inexperienced, it doesn’t feel like you have 10 balls.”
As the T20 World Cup drew near, Green understood that earning a spot in the starting XI wouldn’t be straightforward. With seasoned players like Marcus Stoinis in contention, Australia’s strategy remained flexible, potentially accommodating eight batters if conditions warranted such a lineup.
In this scenario, Green’s bowling prowess would be pivotal. His IPL experience had equipped him to handle pressure, evident in his impressive economy rate of under nine.
Green’s journey to this juncture had been carefully managed by Australia, particularly after a demanding 2023. The transition from the IPL to the Test tour of England had presented challenges, resulting in a temporary absence from the Test side.
Nevertheless, his resilience came to the fore when he was recalled for the series against the West Indies following David Warner‘s retirement. Rather than participating in T20Is against New Zealand, selectors directed him to focus on Sheffield Shield cricket, a decision validated by his superb innings of 174 not out in Wellington.
“I’ve definitely noticed [the difference], this is probably the most prepared I’ve been for some sort of tour,” he said.
“You always move from a Test tour into a T20, a T20 into a Test tour so it’s pretty extreme but that’s the beauty of the IPL this year is you actually got some unbelievable practice leading into this.
“It’s a fine balance, seeing if you can prioritise some sort of tournament before others. With that T20 [series against New Zealand] we had the IPL after so they thought maybe more beneficial to stick with red-ball cricket for that summer, but that will chop and change,” he added.
(With IANS inputs)