Cameron Green is preparing to return as a full-fledged all-rounder, using the Sheffield Shield as his stepping stone back to bowling ahead of the Ashes opener in Perth on November 21. After undergoing back surgery earlier this year, Green has spent most of his time focusing on batting, but he now feels ready to gradually increase his bowling workload in competitive red-ball conditions.
For Australia, Green’s fitness is pivotal. His presence offers balance that few other players can provide: a genuine top-six batter who can bowl at 140 kph. Without him, selectors have often been forced to compromise between batting depth and a reliable fourth seamer. A fully fit Green could solve that dilemma heading into what promises to be a fiercely contested Ashes series.
The Sheffield Shield has long been Green’s platform for building match fitness, and he intends to lean on it again. Unlike the short bursts of overs possible in white-ball cricket, the Shield allows him to bowl in longer spells, gradually stretching his workload and regaining rhythm. Green himself admits that this structure is what best prepares him for the intensity of Test matches, particularly against an opponent as demanding as England.
Australia’s selectors are treading cautiously. Green missed the high-profile Test series against India earlier this year, a reminder of the toll back injuries can take on all-rounders. The plan now is to ensure he isn’t rushed, even if that means skipping some white-ball games against India in October to prioritise Sheffield Shield outings. For Green, the trade-off is simple: regain his bowling fitness in domestic cricket to be fully ready for the Ashes, rather than risk breaking down again in shorter formats.
While his bowling is still in the build-up stage, Green’s batting has been a source of confidence. He recently compiled 184 runs in a tough away series in the West Indies, showing resilience and adaptability on difficult pitches. That performance not only strengthened his place in the side as a batter but also demonstrated his ability to handle responsibility in different conditions. With his batting secure, the focus now is firmly on restoring the all-round package.
Australia’s home summer makes his timing critical. The Ashes opener in Perth will be followed by a packed schedule, and the selectors want a squad with depth and versatility. If Green can bowl by then, he adds a vital dimension to the attack, sharing the load with Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, and Mitchell Starc while also slotting into the batting order at six. His return would also provide more flexibility in balancing the side, possibly allowing an extra spinner or batter depending on conditions.
Green’s return isn’t just about personal milestones—it’s about what he represents. He is the prototype modern cricketer: adaptable, multi-skilled, and capable of changing games with either discipline. For Australia, his successful reintegration could tilt the scales in their favour against an England side hungry to reclaim the urn.
If all goes to plan, November 21 in Perth could mark not just the beginning of another Ashes series, but the re-emergence of Cameron Green as the complete all-rounder Australia has long envisioned.