Image Credit- CA
The next Indian Premier League will likely have an
impact on how Australia’s selectors assemble their final team before the T20
World Cup in June, thus Cameron Green is still very much on their minds.
In order to focus on red-ball practise ahead of the
Tests against New Zealand, which will include a Sheffield Shield match for
Western Australia against Tasmania next week, Green has been left out of the
two Twenty20 International series against the West Indies and New Zealand.
However, he may still play in the World Cup.
He was moved from the Mumbai Indians to the Royal
Challengers Bangalore in the IPL, and his results there could still influence
the selection committee when he returns in late March.
“Yeah, very firmly,” national selector
George Bailey said when asked if Green was still in the frame. “We know
he’s going to go to the IPL and getting a big batch of T20 cricket in. It’s a
constant conversation with multi-format players, working out the priority at
any given time, and making sure they get what they need but he’s certainly one
whose name I think, as we are finalising that 15 for the World Cup, will be
firmly in the mix.”
Before the last World Cup in 2022, Green established
himself as the top player in T20Is by smashing two quick half-centuries against
India. He was then added to Australia’s roster in place of Josh Inglis, who had
only made one appearance in the tournament—during the championship game against
Afghanistan.
Because Tests and ODIs were given precedence over
T20Is last year, he did not play in any of Australia’s eight T20Is. After his
maiden IPL season, Green had a difficult 2023 across formats, finding it
difficult to get runs in Tests before losing his spot at the conclusion of the
Ashes and playing a bit-part role in ODIs, when he was targeted for a run at
No. 4 against South Africa.
“There’s a skill set there that’s unbelievable
across all three formats,” Bailey said. “[We’re] really confident
that just continuing to expose him he’ll get better and better and learn more
about his game.
“It’s a challenge that all those players do go
through, but I guess when you are younger and you get exposed to that, it can
be tough. But I’m sure if you ask Cam he wouldn’t have it any other way.”