Australian all–rounder Cameron Green said he will be completely fit and ready to bowl without any restrictions in the Ashes which starts on November 21. He has not bowled in a match since a back surgery last October.
Green will return to bowling this weekend for Western Australia in their Sheffield Shield opener against New South Wales at the WACA in Perth. He will bat at No. 4 and he is in contention to keep his spot at No. 3 in Australian Test team.
“It’s been a long 12 months, but feeling really good,” Green said on Friday. “The body’s in a good place. It’s been a really good rehab journey. I feel stronger, fitter, my action feels good.”
Green will be bowling eight overs in this first game, with captain Sam Whiteman managing his spells. He has planned to build up his action through three Shield matches and Australia’s ODI series against India. “It will be eight overs for the (Shield) game. Just a steady build-up. The first Test should be no restrictions. That’s kind of the whole plan of the last year.”
WA prefers Green at No. 4, where he has an average of 67.09 with five centuries. Jayden Goodwin will be at No. 3. Green also has an average of 53.60 when batting at No. 4 in Tests due to his 174 not out against New Zealand last year.
There are chances that he could bat at No. 3 in the Ashes. As all-rounder Beau Webster is also in the Test side, Green feels more confident that he can handle batting at top and share the bowling load.
“Spending so long in the field bowling, and then expected to go out there and bat the last 10 overs of the day for example, is really challenging. But I think I’m in a bit of a different place. Let’s say I’m batting up the top, and Beau’s batting six, for example, he might take more of the (bowling)load,” Cameron said.
Meanwhile, Sam Konstas will also be watched closely, alongside Marnus Labsuschagne, Nathan McSweeney, Jake Weatherald, Marcus Harris, Josh Inglis, Campbell Kellaway, Kurtis Patterson, Matt Renshaw and Cameron Bancroft, who are pushing for an Ashes opening spot with Usman Khawaja.
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