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Cameron Green all set to prioritize Shield cricket before Test summer
Follow UsDespite being an all-format starter, Green is likely to miss out on the white-ball assignments with an eye on the India series
Over the last few months, the selectors have prioritized Cameron Green’s availability in the red-ball format, with them resting the all-rounder for the white-ball series against New Zealand. It not only kept Green fit and raring to go, but it also gave him enough time to go and play in Shield, where he scored a stunning century.
The 24-year-old kicked on from his century against Tasmania with a 174*, where he bailed Australia from trouble in Wellington against New Zealand. A similar treatment is set to be in place for Green ahead of India’s trip Down Under, with the all-rounder set to prioritize red-ball assignment over the white-ball series against Pakistan.
Australia’s head coach, Andrew McDonald, confirmed the same, stating there would be a conversation with the player.
"The next stress point on that's going to be next summer leading into the Indian Test series," McDonald said.
"I think it'll be a conversation where he's at. I'd like to probably err on the side of preparing him through red-ball. We know how good a white-ball player he is. If you put a priority on what it looks like next summer, the white-ball cricket is important but, geez, that Test summer is important,” he added.
Given the magnanimity of the occasion, Australia’s head coach said that the management will use Shield cricket ‘as a means’ to get players ready for the red-ball series.
"I think with the results he's had out there, he'll probably come to us and say can you give us a couple of Shield games before the first Test against India."
"We'll use Shield cricket to get ready for the Test summer on an individual's needs basis," McDonald said. "There won't be any [prescription that] this is what we're doing with every player. But we'll pick and choose what that looks like, based around international cricket,” he added.
Despite the win in Wellington, Australia are still only placed third on the World Test Championship table. The series against India could be all to play for both teams, given that other contenders are closing in on the duo.
"I was glad that [Green] embraced that when we had that conversation with him. And the return on it was pretty immediate. It's not always going to be like that. So even if he failed here, we felt like that was his best preparation. So don't always judge a result as making it right or wrong."