Cameron Green is making waves in county cricket and is a strong candidate for Australia’s lineup in the World Test Championship final, even though he can’t bowl. Coach Andrew McDonald has said that whether they need an allrounder against South Africa at Lord’s will influence where Green bats.
The 25-year-old hasn’t played Test cricket since March 2024, but he stole the spotlight recently with an unbeaten 174 in Wellington against New Zealand while batting at No. 4. He’s also done well for Gloucestershire, with three centuries and a 67 not out in eight innings at No. 5, showing he’s back in form after recovering from back surgery.
Even though Green won’t be able to bowl at Lord’s, McDonald seems sure he’ll come in as a specialist batter, which could lead to some changes in the batting order. Marnus Labuschagne, Sam Konstas, Beau Webster, and Josh Inglis could see their positions shift depending on where Green fits in.
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Before heading to the UK, McDonald confirmed that Steven Smith would stay at No. 4 but noted that Green is flexible enough to play anywhere in the top six. “He could bat three, five, six, or even open,” McDonald said on SEN radio. He believes Green has the right skills and mindset for any of those spots.
Green’s return means Travis Head will likely move back to No. 5 after he opened in Sri Lanka. This puts extra pressure on Usman Khawaja, who will need a new opening partner again, having previously opened with Smith, Head, Konstas, and Nathan McSweeney over the last few series.
Beau Webster, who made a strong debut at No. 6 against India and performed well in Sri Lanka, might not have a guaranteed place for the final. McDonald pointed out that the selectors are still figuring out if they need a fifth bowler for this one-off game at Lord’s.
McDonald mentioned, “There’s an XI on a board, but it has some blanks with different names in various spots.” The decision will depend on the conditions. “We’re flexible with that,” he added. They have a rough idea of what the team might look like, but won’t make any final choices until the time comes.
When asked if the opening slot could come down to Labuschagne or Konstas if Green bats at No. 3 and Webster plays, McDonald didn’t discount it. “If we need an allrounder based on the conditions, that could affect the top order,” he explained. He also noted that Webster could still be an option as a specialist batter.
With players just coming out of the IPL, they’ll assess how ready everyone is when they reach England. Overall, they seem confident that most players are in good shape.
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Another player in the mix is Josh Inglis, who had a great Test debut in Sri Lanka and has been solid across different formats. If they decide against an allrounder, Inglis could step in at No. 6. Although selector George Bailey had mentioned Inglis as a potential opener, that option looks less likely now since he hasn’t opened in first-class cricket and hasn’t scored big while batting higher up the order.
