Cameron Green is actively pursuing the opportunity to participate in some Sheffield Shield matches for Western Australia as the domestic summer progresses. He is particularly keen on making a significant impact on the selection landscape as solely a batter for the upcoming World Test Championship final against South Africa, scheduled to take place at Lord's in June.
Since undergoing back surgery in October, Green has been sidelined from competitive cricket. The procedure was necessitated due to a fifth stress fracture identified in his lower back, which he sustained during Australia's one-day tour of the UK in September. At 25 years old, Green received the same type of surgical intervention that is commonly performed on fast bowlers worldwide, a cohort that includes notable players such as Jasprit Bumrah and his state and club teammate Jason Behrendorff. Green consulted closely with both of these players prior to and following his surgery, which took place in Christchurch. Additionally, he sought guidance during his recuperation from former New Zealand fast bowler Shane Bond, who was one of the pioneers of this intricate surgical technique, involving the insertion of screws and a wire into the spine.
Green's recovery trajectory is currently exceeding expectations. By early January, he was already back on his feet running and has been actively batting for several weeks. However, he does not plan to resume bowling until later in the year, well past the World Test Championship final and the three-Test tour of the Caribbean. His long-term goal is to be fully fit to bowl without any restrictions in preparation for the Ashes series in late November 2025.
From the initial stages of his recovery, there was optimism among the Western Australia cricketing community that Green might return as a batter to play a Shield match by late February or early March. At the Cricket Australia Awards, where he received the Community Impact Award for his contributions to Kidney Health Australia, Green indicated that he was targeting a comeback in Western Australia’s last Shield game of the home-and-away season against Victoria, scheduled for March 15 at the WACA ground. Furthermore, Western Australia is positioned to potentially reach a fourth consecutive Shield final, set to begin on March 26.
For Green to participate in the upcoming match, he must secure medical clearance from Cricket Australia’s medical team. Regular scans are required post-surgery to evaluate his recovery progress and ensure his fitness for play.
Looking ahead, Green is also considering a stint in county cricket in England prior to the World Test Championship final. The English county championship has eight rounds of fixtures lined up for April and May, with the final round commencing on May 23, just weeks before the WTC final kicks off on June 11. Cricket Australia would likely sanction this arrangement only if an English club expressed interest, taking into account that Green would not be able to bowl during this period.
Green's return to fitness is poised to create a competitive scenario in Australia’s top order. He registered an impressive score of 174 not out while batting at No. 4 in his second-to-last Test appearance against New Zealand in March of the previous year. However, Steve Smith has reclaimed the No. 4 position with notable success, amassing three centuries in his last four Tests against India and Sri Lanka.
In light of this situation, Travis Head is anticipated to shift back to the No. 5 position for the World Test Championship final, despite having opened the batting during the recent series in Sri Lanka. During this time, Head expressed expectations that Sam Konstas would return to opening after having been removed from the playing XI during the match in Galle. The top order will experience pressure as Marnus Labuschagne occupies the No. 3 spot, while the scenario may not necessitate an allrounder such as Beau Webster at No. 6 for a one-off final at Lord’s, provided that the pitch conditions favor four specialist bowlers to handle the bowling duties.
Adding another layer of complexity for the selectors is the performance of Josh Inglis, who notched a century on his debut in Galle. Selected primarily for his ability to tackle spin bowling, Inglis has the advantage of being familiar with England, having served as Australia’s spare batter for four of the five Tests during the recent home series against India. Unfortunately, he suffered a calf injury while substituting in the field in Melbourne, further complicating the decision-making process heading into the final stages of selection.
As the focus shifts towards the unfolding cricketing events, the dynamics surrounding Cameron Green's return to competitive play are poised to significantly influence the Australian team composition, providing both opportunities and challenges in their quest for success on the international stage.