Indian superstar's key message for Aussie ace Green
A message from India superstar Jasprit Bumrah a night before undergoing back surgery provided Cameron Green with confidence he had made the right decision.
The towering allrounder is poised to play his first Test in 15 months when Australia take on South Africa in the World Test Championship final that starts on Wednesday.
The 26-year-old has made a seamless adjustment back to red-ball cricket, hitting three centuries across his five-game county stint with Gloucestershire.
Even though Green won't resume bowling in games until later in the year, his electric form with the bat has meant Australia are unlikely to look past him for selection in the WTC decider.
The comeback has surpassed external expectations, but Green was comfortable undergoing lower spine surgery was the right approach.
"I spoke to Ben Dwarshuis, and Jason Behrendorff, who I'm very close to in WA," Green said.
"And they couldn't speak any higher about getting it.
"Both of them said they wished they got it earlier. I think that's obviously really reassuring.
"As soon as I decided to get it, I knew it was the right thing to do.
"Even Jasprit Bumrah reached out the night before I was getting surgery.
"He was in the middle of a Test match in India. Just a few things like that is really special."
Green played a season with the Mumbai Indians in the Indian Premier League, a franchise where Bumrah is a legend.
The superstar quick was sidelined when Green was there in 2023, recovering from his own back surgery.
"To get someone like him to reach out and then to watch him during the summer, to see how good he is obviously post-surgery, filled me with a lot of confidence," Green said.
"At the two-week mark after surgery, I was in the gym moving around. It was incredible."
The progress Green made post-surgery was remarkable.
He acknowledged coaches were "probably saying, 'slow down here'".
"The procedure has changed, definitely since Jason Behrendorff had his," Green said.
"I don't think he could move for seven-to-eight weeks.
"He was going a bit like 'stuff you' and I was moving around fine at the two-week mark."
"You're missing Test cricket, which is what hurts you the most.
"But at the same time, I knew I was going to go home to have five, six months off, which I desperately needed."
Green is every chance to bat at No.3 against the Proteas - the highest he has ever been at Test level for Australia.
After starting his career at No.6, Green moved up to No.4 when Steve Smith tried his hand at opening once David Warner ended his Test career in January 2024.
But with Smith settled back at No.4, there is an opportunity for Green to go up a spot and Marnus Labuschagne fills the opening void alongside Usman Khawaja.
"You grow up through your whole career, you speak to anyone here, they've definitely batted in the top three or four throughout their whole junior career. I was no different, batting three until you get to first-class cricket.
"Absolutely no issues batting at three, when you've done it your whole life."
This AAP article was made possible by support from Amazon Prime Video, which is broadcasting the World Test Championship final.
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