The Western Australia allrounder says he is excited and grateful to make his Test match return against West Indies having not played the format since losing his place for the first time in his short Test career during the Ashes last July.
But Green says he is not feeling any added pressure given the high-profile game of musical chairs that has been played to get him back into the team.
“I don’t feel any pressure,” Green said. “Obviously replacing someone like Steve is pretty tough. But I’m just going to play my own way. But I’m obviously grateful for him putting that in his mind and thinking of me.
“I think he’s super excited to be opening. I think it’s a win-win.”
There was a moment in March last year when it would have been inconceivable that Green wouldn’t be playing in Australia’s Test team just 10 months later.
At the end of the Ahmedabad Test, Green’s 20th, he averaged 37.64 with the bat and 34.30 with the ball. After 20 Tests, Jacques Kallis averaged 31.73 and 33.34 respectively.
Marsh, incidentally, scored 128 runs in nine innings with one half-century in the same IPL having gone home mid-tournament to get married.
“Obviously replacing someone like Steve is pretty tough. But I’m just going to play my own way. But I’m obviously grateful for him putting that in his mind and thinking of me.”
Cameron Green on taking over Steven Smith’s No. 4 spot in Tests
Green turned up to England unprepared, having never played cricket in the UK at any level, and having just a week of nets to acclimatise. A hamstring niggle kept him out of the third Ashes Test at Headingley after scores of 6, 25, 38, 28, 0, and 18 and five wickets at 45 apiece.
Marsh took his chance making a stunning century at Headingley. He backed that up with a half-century and an unbeaten 31 at Old Trafford to outperform Green, who was playing in the same team. Green was then left out at the Oval when Australia picked just one allrounder.
“It was pretty obvious,” Green said reflecting on his omission. “There wasn’t really a need to explain. I think Mitch is playing some incredible cricket and has done for a few years. I totally understood where they were going with that. But at the same time, I was grateful to be with the team so I could still work on my own craft and try and put my name back in the hat.”
“I always knew it was going to be a tough year,” Green said. “But also at the same time it’s a great opportunity to learn and improve my game and see different environments and different coaching staff as well.
“I’m grateful I went through it.”
Those four Tests have dragged Green’s averages with bat and ball, respectively, back to 33.59 and 36.03, which his critics will suggest aren’t worthy of his feted to return to No.4. But Ben Stokes was also averaging 33.21 and 37.84 after 24 Tests, something Australia’s coaching staff stressed to Green privately after his axing in England. Chair of selectors George Bailey is adamant he is in Australia’s best six batters, something Green was appreciative of hearing. But he is aware words aren’t the be-all and end-all.
“It’s always nice when you get that from the coaching staff and the selectors,” Green said. “But you’ve got to also showcase on the main stage.”
He returns to the main stage refreshed and rejuvenated having spent more time at home this summer than he did all of last year. And despite only playing twice since the ODI World Cup, he is ready to take on the responsibility and familiarity of No.4.
“What I like is that I’ve got a bit of time,” Green said. “I’ve always felt maybe a touch rushed at No.6, especially after Heady [Travis Head], he makes it look a bit too easy at No.5. I’ve always felt like I’ve maybe had to push the game along where I feel like No.4 is my natural game, where I can take my time and get myself in.”
Alex Malcolm is an associate editor at ESPNcricinfo
