logo
Aussie comeback star Cameron Green inspired by Jasprit Bumrah's ‘special' mid-match message before operation

Aussie comeback star Cameron Green inspired by Jasprit Bumrah's ‘special' mid-match message before operation

7NEWSa day ago

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.
Know the news with the 7NEWS app: Download today
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.'

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Usman Khawaja addresses burning question about future ahead of World Test Championship
Usman Khawaja addresses burning question about future ahead of World Test Championship

7NEWS

time2 hours ago

  • 7NEWS

Usman Khawaja addresses burning question about future ahead of World Test Championship

Australian veteran opener Usman Khawaja is facing the very real possibility that the World Test Championship could be his last Test at Lord's, and possibly his final Test for Australia. Australia are aiming for back-to-back World Test Championship titles when they face South Africa on Wednesday night (June 11, at 7.30pm AEST). Know the news with the 7NEWS app: Download today And the 38-year-old was keeping his cards close to his chest when asked directly by 7NEWS if he would be putting his whites and baggy green in mothballs after the match. Khawaja took a long pause as he contemplated the retirement question. 'Ummmm .... I mean, potentially, you never know,' he said. While the Test may be Khawaja's last, potentially it could also be a farewell match for some of his Aussie teammates. It is for that reason the prospect of becoming back-to-back World Test champions is so high on the Australians' wish list. 'I think it'd be pretty cool (beating South Africa), especially winning it at Lord's ... and it could potentially be the last time you see this exact team in two years,' he said. 'It might not be (the end of of this line-up), but you never know.' At the time of the interview, Khawaja was unclear if his opening partner would be fellow veterans Steve Smith (36) or Marnus Labuschagne (30). And Khawaja said he didn't have a favourite. 'They're both as annoying as each other.' After opening with Khawaja for Australia's two Tests in Sri Lanka, Travis Head will move back to No.5 against the Proteas. Labuschagne is expected to move up from No.3 to open with Khawaja, with fit-again Cameron Green to bat in the top-three. Aussie star speaks on new 'optional' ahead of WTC final Star batter Travis Head has opened up on how Australia's different approach to training has helped set up an era of success. Since 2021, Australia have collected three ICC trophies - the ODI and T20 World Cups, and the second edition of the WTC back in 2023. Despite having limited time to prepare for the one-off Test with the Proteas — Australia's first red-ball match since February — Head is confident the XI will be ready to hit the ground running. 'Gone are the days of an optional session that wasn't optional,' Head said. 'It was optional if you wanted, but naughty if you didn't. 'So it was the optional 'yes' session. 'It was the optional 'must be there'. 'We're in a great environment now where we're backed to be able to prepare how we want, and come in at different drop points.' Head has thrived since Andrew McDonald became head coach in 2022, taking over after Justin Langer's messy exit from the job following the 4-0 Ashes win in Australia. The aggressive left-hander has become one of world cricket's best big game players. He starred with a player-of-the-match performance when Australia defeated India in the 2023 WTC final at The Oval, smashing a game-changing 163. Head proved it was no fluke only months later when he inspired Australia to a memorable upset of India at a hostile Ahmedabad in the 2023 ODI World Cup final. 'I feel like we've been in so many big games,' Head said. 'I have pride in the way I play, and I want to contribute every time I play. 'I put pressure on myself no matter, regardless of the situation or what kind of game I play in. 'So good things, bad things. 'I don't see it any bigger this week than what's to come. 'If you look at it through that lens, what's the worst that can happen? 'Playing a final at Lords, it's a cool thing to be involved in.'

Matthew Hayden inducted into ICC Hall of Fame
Matthew Hayden inducted into ICC Hall of Fame

West Australian

time10 hours ago

  • West Australian

Matthew Hayden inducted into ICC Hall of Fame

As Australian selectors mull another opening combination on the eve of the World Test Championship final, one of the best to do it, Matthew Hayden, was among seven cricket greats inducted into the ICC Hall of Fame. Hayden opened for Australia for 16 years across Test and ODI cricket, once holding the record for the highest Test score after blasting 380 against Zimbabwe in Perth. He finished his epic career with 30 Test hundreds, and his three centuries during the 2007 ODI World Cup also propelled Australia to victory. Hayden formed a formidable partnership with Justin Langer during a period of Australian Test domination, in stark contrast to recent times when the opening position in the Test team has been a 'revolving door' according to current opener Usman Khawaja. He said he remained in the dark about who would open with him at Lord's against South Africa in the WTC final that starts on Thursday, having been through four partners since David Warner's retirement. 'I've had a few partners since Davey's gone. It's just a tough place to bat,' Khawaja said. 'You can't hide in Test cricket. I think whoever's going to come in will do a good job, but for me, it's no different.' Hayden made the spot his own in 273 matches for Australia across Tests, ODIs and T20s. The powerful Queenslander blasted nearly 15,000 runs across the three formats, with 40 international hundreds, and he finished his career with a Test average of 50.73, putting him in rarefied air. Indian legend MS Dhoni, Daniel Vettori, Hashim Amla, Graeme Smith, Sarah Taylor and Sana Mir were the other inductees.

Aussie reminder in great's Hall of Fame nod
Aussie reminder in great's Hall of Fame nod

Perth Now

time10 hours ago

  • Perth Now

Aussie reminder in great's Hall of Fame nod

As Australian selectors mull another opening combination on the eve of the World Test Championship final, one of the best to do it, Matthew Hayden, was among seven cricket greats inducted into the ICC Hall of Fame. Hayden opened for Australia for 16 years across Test and ODI cricket, once holding the record for the highest Test score after blasting 380 against Zimbabwe in Perth. He finished his epic career with 30 Test hundreds, and his three centuries during the 2007 ODI World Cup also propelled Australia to victory. Hayden formed a formidable partnership with Justin Langer during a period of Australian Test domination, in stark contrast to recent times when the opening position in the Test team has been a 'revolving door' according to current opener Usman Khawaja. Matthew Hayden raises his bat after breaking the world record of 375 runs by hitting 380 in 2003. Credit: News Limited He said he remained in the dark about who would open with him at Lord's against South Africa in the WTC final that starts on Thursday, having been through four partners since David Warner's retirement. 'I've had a few partners since Davey's gone. It's just a tough place to bat,' Khawaja said. 'You can't hide in Test cricket. I think whoever's going to come in will do a good job, but for me, it's no different.' Hayden made the spot his own in 273 matches for Australia across Tests, ODIs and T20s. The powerful Queenslander blasted nearly 15,000 runs across the three formats, with 40 international hundreds, and he finished his career with a Test average of 50.73, putting him in rarefied air. Indian legend MS Dhoni, Daniel Vettori, Hashim Amla, Graeme Smith, Sarah Taylor and Sana Mir were the other inductees.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store