This is Cameron Green’s 20th Test, and on Day 2 of the fourth Test between India and Australia, he scored 114 runs from 170 balls.
Australian all-rounder Cameron Green finally gets the proverbial “monkey off your back” after making a century on his seventh try. On Friday, the second day of the fourth Test between Australia and India, Green, who is playing in his 20th Test, hit 114 runs off 170 balls. His performance was just as important as Usman Khawaja’s 180, which helped Australia post a respectable first-innings score of 480. “It’s liberating to finally put that nagging thought to rest, and you can finally start to feel like a true Test player. It’s one of a kind, “After the day’s games, Green spoke to the press.
He raced into the 90s and eventually reached his first hundred thanks to a few loose deliveries, most notably from Umesh Yadav.
“I think I might have had a bit of luck,” he said, “I got from 70 to 80, to 90 quite rapidly, so that definitely helped a bit, not having too much time to think about it.” Given that his previous best score in 20 innings was 84, this one was exceptional.
“Of course, being 95 during lunchtime meant that those 40 minutes felt like an hour and forty. However, I was batting alongside Uzzy (Khawaja’s nickname). There was an experience on the other end the whole time, and he was hitting wonderfully, so that was helpful “Speaking of the time right before he hit his tonne, Green reminisced.
Green, who has played Test cricket for two years, knows full well that the game isn’t easy and wants to make the most of his opportunities while they last.
“I’ve been around long enough to experience the highs and lows of Test cricket to know it for what it is. Given how difficult the game is, opportunities like that one are treasured. I’ve experienced the rigors of Test cricket and I love them.” Even after surgery, the pull shots continued to pain the finger that had sidelined him for the first two Tests.
“This is excellent. The few months of therapy and recuperation I put in have been crucial to my current state of health. I haven’t had any issues at all with bowling, and with batting, I’ve just had a few pull shots hurt me for an instant.” Playing straight is crucial on a good track like the one at Motera and that has helped him get back into his batting rhythm after an extended absence from the Test arena.
“Out in the middle, it’s a very excellent surface to bat on, but in the middle, the ball can be nipping around a bit, making the time in the middle a bit difficult. It was great that you got a chance to play straight and get yourself in.” The only thing that could have helped him relax was being in Khawaja’s company.
“With Uzzy, he’s an experienced head that’s played Test cricket for more than 10 years now, he’s so helpful for people like myself and a handful of the young men in the team the way he goes about it,” Green said.
“I’m trying to learn as much as I can off him, and thankfully enough there are a lot of guys in the change rooms like that, you’ve got Travis Head, Marnus, Smudge, they’re all the best in the world at the moment, so I’m very glad I’ve had guys around like that,” he added.
