Shane Watson, a former all-rounder, believes Cameron Green has what it takes to be a Test opener for Australia in the upcoming West Indies series. This comes after David Warner’s retirement and selectors seeking Usman Khawaja’s opening partner.
Shane Watson thinks Green doesn’t necessarily need prior experience opening but emphasizes the need to handle Green’s bowling workload, much like Watson experienced when he opened the batting.
“I’m confident he can (open). Australia needs to include Cameron Green in the team, and the current opportunity is for him to open. They’ll need to manage his bowling workload, similar to my experience when I was opening,” Watson shared with ESPNCricinfo.
Also Read: 2nd Test: Mukesh, Bumrah strike as South Africa trail India by 36 runs as 23 wickets fall in a day
“He possesses the skills, scoring ability, and understanding required to excel as an opening batter. It might take him a game or two to figure out his game plan. But he certainly has the talent and mindset to make the most of it,” he added.
Apart from Green, Cameron Bancroft and Marcus Harris are also being considered as potential replacements for David Warner at the top.
Coach Andrew McDonald suggested Green might be the one to fill Warner’s shoes. “We’re considering all options. The decision won’t be made until the West Indies game deadline. Cameron Green has been part of the conversation about the best six batters,” McDonald stated.
Since his debut in December 2020, Green has played 24 Tests, scoring 1075 runs at an average of 33.59, with one century and five half-centuries. He has also taken 30 wickets, including a five-wicket haul against South Africa at the MCG.
