World Test Championship final: Why West Australian Cam Green is now the key to Australia's batting order
Steve Smith has been confirmed as Australia's No.4 for next week's World Test Championship final, leaving Cam Green to shape the rest of the order.
Australian captain Pat Cummins said Smith will retain his place in the middle-order — rather than being bumped up to make way for Green's return — during an interview released on Wednesday.
It means Green — who will play his first Test match in 16 months against South Africa at Lord's from June 11 — could bat at No.4, lower down the order, or even open the batting.
Smith joins opener Usman Khawaja as the only members of the batting unit with their positions now in permanent marker.
'I can confirm that Smudge will definitely be batting four,' Cummins told The Grade Cricketer.
'Everyone else I am probably not willing to confirm, but I can confirm Steve Smith will be at No.4.'
Smith had given up his No.4 position for Green in the months after David Warner's Test retirement, but slotted back into the middle-order when the West Aussie was injured last summer.
Australian players gathered in Scotland last week for an under-the-radar pre-Test camp, but have now headed to London. West Australian Josh Inglis and quick Josh Hazlewood will be the final players to join the squad after Inglis' Punjab Kings lost Tuesday night's Indian Premier League final to Hazlewood's Royal Challengers Bengaluru.
Inglis is an outside chance to force his way into the side after a strong IPL where he scored 278 runs at 30.88.
Marnus Labuschagne had been considered the frontrunner to open the batting, but a lean stint in the second division of the County Championship may have opened the door to Sam Konstas, Green or Inglis pinching that spot.
If Labuschagne opens, Green's most likely spot is at No.3. The all-rounder has not returned to bowling yet, which means Beau Webster is a strong chance to play to bat at No.6 and support the pace attack.
Green could slot into the middle-order if Australia chooses to back in a four-man pace attack, although dry early-season wickets are likely to require some seam-bowling support.
The 26-year-old's versatility will open the door to selectors squeezing in their six most in-form batters.
Australian coach Andrew McDonald said last week Green 'could bat anywhere'.
'He could be three, he could be five, he could be six, he could open. He's got all bases covered.
'You're not going to get a negative word from the coach about Cameron Green and his batting.'
WA teammate Jhye Richardson, who spent time in rehab with Green during his nine-month layoff after back surgery, said the all-rounder's county cricket form was an ominous warning to both South Africa and England ahead of this summer's looming Ashes series.
Green scored three centuries during a five-match stint at second-division side Gloucestershire and finished with 467 runs at 66.71.
'I think we've seen a little bit already, with the success he has had over in England,' Richardson told The West Australian.
'If you can have success over there with the Dukes ball, it holds him in really good stead to come back here in familiar conditions. I'm really looking forward to it.'
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