Allrounder Green to play ODIs, T20s for Australia vs India

Highly-touted allrounder Cameron Green has been selected in Australia’s one-day international and Twenty20 squads for an upcoming series against India.

The 21-year-old Green averages 52.23 with the bat and 21.53 with the ball from 17 first-class matches for Western Australia, and former test captain Greg Chappell has described him as the best young batter since Ricky Ponting.

Green was unable to bowl last season because of stress fractures in his back. But in his most recent Sheffield Shield domestic first-class match, Green scored 197 against New South Wales.

Australia will play three one-day internationals and three T20s against India, with the first ODI on Nov. 27 in Sydney. The teams will then play a four-test series, starting with a day-night match in Adelaide.

“Cameron’s domestic form has been outstanding and he has carried it through for Western Australia this summer," Australia selector Trevor Hohns said. “As a potential player of the future, this is an opportunity for him to be part of the squad and build on his experience.”

Australia's return to international cricket following the COVID-19 lockdown included a T20 and ODI series in England in August and September. It culminated with Australia beating World Cup champion England in the ODI series.

Green will add to the depth of the squad.

Chappell told SEN radio that Green is “the best young batting talent I've seen since Ricky Ponting," comparing the young allrounder with Australia's leading all-time scorer in test cricket.

“This kid can play - he’s a serious talent," Chappell said. “He’s got something special in that he’s 6-foot-7 tall — we haven’t seen anyone of that size dominate from a batting point of view."

Cricket Australia also announced Thursday that it had posted a 45.9 million Australian dollar (32.4 million) deficit in the last financial year and warned of more losses to come. The deficit came despite the organization axing 40 jobs amid the coronavirus pandemic shutdown.

CA said the deficit was projected on a four-year cycle which relies heavily on money generated from international tours. Only New Zealand and Pakistan toured Australia in the financial year.

Australia squad

Aaron Finch (captain), Sean Abbott, Ashton Agar, Alex Carey, Pat Cummins, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Moises Henriques, Marnus Labuschagne, Glenn Maxwell, Daniel Sams, Kane Richardson, Steven Smith, Mitchell Starc, Marcus Stoinis, Matthew Wade, David Warner, Adam Zampa

Image credits: Cricket Australia