For most first-class cricketers, taking 9-42 or scoring 208 unbeaten runs in a match would be the best performance of their career.
Yet, quite incredibly, 20-year-old bowling all-rounder Cameron Green already has achieved both of those feats after just nine matches for WA.
Green stunned Queensland in the Shield this week as he made 87* and 121* at the Gabba. What’s more is that WA were in crisis mode when Green arrived at the crease in both innings.
They were 6-160 in the first dig and 7-53 in the second. So this wasn’t a case of Green making cheap runs after WA’s top seven had worn out the Queensland attack, instead he saved his side from potential disaster in both innings.
This is the same prodigy who, as a 17-year-old, made a remarkable Shield debut, taking 7-80 against Tasmania. Green then followed that up, in his fifth Shield match, by tearing Tasmania apart with match figures of 9-42.
Last month I flagged Green as one of the players to watch in this Shield season, highlighting that his significant batting talent was yet to be unleashed at state level.
Now he has showcased that batting ability in spectacular fashion. As a red-ball cricketer, in particular, Green’s potential is jaw-dropping. To date he has taken 28 wickets at 21 in first-class cricket to go with 376 runs at 38.
Very, very few players in modern history have made this dominant a start to their Shield careers at such a young age.
(AAP Image/Jono Searle)
Green is the most gifted all-rounder to emerge from the Australian domestic scene since Shane Watson was carving up the Shield as a teenager some 19 years ago.
Given the Australian selection panel’s fondness for all-rounders, it will be fascinating to see whether Green is rushed into the national set-up or allowed to mature, as he should be. That may well depend on which aspect of his game comes to the fore over the remainder of this summer.
Due to Australia’s wealth of pace options, bowling all-rounders seem to be far less in demand than batting all-rounders. Green has been batting at eight for WA in the Shield, which based on common sense, would make it unlikely for him to get picked to bat in Australia’s Test top seven. Wicketkeeper Tim Paine’s prolonged batting slump would make it even less likely.
Australian coach Justin Langer yesterday joked about Green: “Can we slide him in the (Test) top four?”. Langer was the coach of WA when Green made his Shield debut so he’s well aware of his ability.
With the ball Green’s attributes are obvious. He is accurate, swings the ball consistently and quite late, and earns steepling bounce due to his 200-centimetre frame. In style and size he is most similar to current Australian star Josh Hazlewood and former Test gun Stuart Clark.
With the blade, meanwhile, he is a powerful striker who is also prepared to graft for runs. In the first innings against Queensland this week Green cautiously played himself in. His first 20 runs came off 52 balls. Operating like a composed specialist batsman, he respected the good balls and pounced on loose offerings. In the second innings Green was more expansive in his strokeplay and was especially aggressive against leg spinner Mitchell Swepson.
His massive reach made it hard for Swepson to find the correct length. Green alternated between stretching forward to drive Swepson or, when the spinner changed his length, rocking back to cut and pull.
As you would imagine for such a huge man, Green has ferocious power in his strokes. Yet the shots which stood out most across both innings were a series of perfectly timed drives down the ground from the quicks – just leaning on the ball rather than thumping it.
Green bats in the top order for Subiaco-Floreat in WA Premier Cricket, where he has made 632 runs at 63 in the past two seasons. He is more than just a bowler who can bat. Green is a genuine all-rounder.
Such players don’t come around very often. Whether he can deliver on this promise, only time will tell – but there is no question he is a truly phenomenal talent.
Ronan O'Connell
Expert
Flashback to 13 months ago - pretty happy with this call.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
What games are you watching?
Lawrence
Roar Rookie
Or Labuschagne, Langer deserves a lot of credit for selecting him on his obvious talent rather than what he averages.
Lawrence
Roar Rookie
Green is a huge talent no doubt, had a few injuries early but if his body holds up over time will play a lot of cricket for Australia. Has a nice out swinger and like how his right arm is right in front of the umpire down the wicket, Alderman Macleay style, will get a lot LBW. See him as a bowling all rounder, batting at 7/8, probably after Carey. Will make a lot of handy runs.
qwetzen
Roar Rookie
No need to. I have watched them play. And you've *never* got a judgement wrong? And you're the only one who has eh. I wouldn’t pick them to play for Australia tomorrow or NSW today…but they can play. There's very, very few players in the Shield who can't play. We’ve seen some excellent performances from Jack Edwards a few times last season, Really? With a 2nd highest score last season of 47, these "excellent performances" must have really been something. For you anyway. two glimpses with the bat from Sangha, Wow! His 2nd highest score last season was 10 runs lower than J Edwards. Glimpse and you would have missed it.
Chris Love
Roar Guru
And please leave him in the shield and ask him to forget T20 until he’s actually in the test side and locks down that spot.
qwetzen
Roar Rookie
"Just because someone with ability comes on the scene but doesn’t nail it immediately does not mean they won’t make it." Did I say that they wouldn't "make it"? (Whatever that means). No. And I'm not stupid enough to declare that any Blue would never "make it" to the Test XI...
qwetzen
Roar Rookie
They should try putting the thermometer in the shade...
Chris Kettlewell
Roar Guru
Yes, but to do that he needs to be batting in the top 6 for WA. Even if he managed to average 40 batting at 8-9, that's not going to get him a gig batting at 6 for the test side. To really get a test allrounder spot, batting at 6, he needs to prioritise his batting a bit more and really look to be scoring a lot of runs, even if it means less bowling. Unfortunately in a team where Mitch Marsh and Marcus Stoinis are in the same team, they probably feel they don't need another top-6 batting allrounder in the side. He might almost need to move states to really get that shot batting higher up the order.
Derek Murray
Roar Rookie
I’m confused. Is bowling in the SS less likely to develop stress fractures than bowling in test matches? Why?
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
You know, I have never once grumbled about any treatment about a Marsh. You run with a stereotype that you believe. You will not be able to find one post I have ever made that grumbles about their treatment. What you will find is me challenging those who knock players like Marsh...or the usual targets (Maxi, Peter Nevill, Nathan Lyon in the past), Carey, Paine, Head these days. Mango, you'll always find a Ben to support you but that locks you into your own typecast.
Nick
Roar Guru
Pujara also earns about a third what rohit Sharma gets, or hardik pandya or shikhar Dhawan. Nathan Lyon hasn't got a look in at the IPL because he was pigeon holed as a test player for years. There's a fat contract he misses out on each year. Not sure we should judge the kid if he went to explore t20 riches. If he's as good as people say, he'll be playing for Australia across all formats soon enough.
Paul
Roar Guru
I agree but IMO the best way for him to do that, based on the skillset I've seen is to leave T20 cricket alone, get established as a serious red ball cricketer and see what happens from there. T20 cricket will rapidly become dime a dozen stuff, if it hasn't already done so
Paul
Roar Guru
Yep and when was the last time Glenn Maxwell played a Test?????????????????
Paul
Roar Guru
Why not and more to the point, where did I suggest this was a hobby? If following a T20 career stops him from playing Tests because he loses the skills needed to play 5 day cricket and maybe miss out on a CA contract, surely it makes sense to get him to focus on one part of cricket rather than 3? Pujara is a great example of the point I'm making.
jameswm
Roar Guru
Yeah apart from the big 3, there’s Pattinson, Richardson, Sayers, Tremain, Siddle and maybe a couple of others. If he average over 40 with the bat for a season or two though, there’s a potential no.6-7 spot though.
jameswm
Roar Guru
They get consecutive 40+ days during the Australian Open.
James
Roar Rookie
Agree about Pucovski. If they don't pick him this summer, are they going to let him debut in Bangladesh 2020? Next summer against India? Keep him until South Africa 2021. Has to be now!
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
You can work that out. You don't need me.
badmanners
Roar Rookie
"Just don't give such weight to my opinions if it upsets you" Might be more fitting for you DF. Do you read before you post or is it the comprehension side a challenge for you DF? " I respect people who remain not out or post big totals down the order." "Once again read my original post, where did I criticise Green." Once again show me where I "diminished" Greens performance in this match.