PAK vs AUS: Shane Watson Wants Australia To Use Cameron Green "The Opener" After David Warner's Test Retirement

Former Australian all-rounder Shane Watson has backed Cameron Green as David Warner’s successor at the Test level. Warner will retire from Test and ODI cricket after the ongoing third and final Test match at Sydney.

Green is a part of the Australian squad for the Pakistan Test series but has not played in the Test series so far. He might not end up getting any further opportunities in this Test series. However, with Warner retiring, Watson sees in Green a potential opener.

Australia first experimented with Cameron Green in the T20 series against India in 2022. He blazed away and struck fifties that paved his path to his maiden IPL contract with Mumbai Indians in 2023. He was traded to Royal Challengers Bangalore ahead of the IPL 2024 auction.

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Australia Needs To Get Cameron Green Into The Team: Shane Watson

Coach and selector Andrew McDonald first spoke about Green likely to replace Warner as the opener in Test cricket. He specifically cited Watson and Simon Katich among others as successful Australian Test openers that started their careers down the order. Now Watson seems to be backing the Australian coach’s statement.

“There’s no question in my mind he can [open] Australia needs to get Cameron Green into the team and the opportunity that you’ve got right now is for him to open. They’ll just have to manage his bowling, for sure, like with my bowling when I was opening the batting. But he absolutely has got the skill, the run-scoring ability and the understanding to be able to make the most of being an opening batter for sure. It might take him a game or two just to be able to work out exactly what his game plan is. But he’s definitely got the game and the mentality to make the most of it” Watson told ESPNcricinfo.

Head coach Andrew McDonald and skipper Pat Cummins said last week that all the possible options are being talked about. Cameron Bancroft, Marcus Harris, and Matt Renshaw are also among the options to be considered. Watson further said that it is easier for a lower-order batter to adjust to the given conditions while opening the batting citing the examples of Simon Katich and Usman Khawaja.

“If you’re scoring runs even slightly lower down the order, you’re facing new balls at times whether you come in early or facing a second new ball, so you’re very well equipped to be able to deal with a brand new ball opening the batting. We have seen it a number of times. Uzzy and Simon Katich are great examples. “It just comes down to what the game plan is and then having the right mindset to be able to capitalise on the technical skills that you do have” added Watson.

Meanwhile, the second day’s play in Sydney was called off early by the umpires due to rain and bad light. Australia at the stumps were 116/2 with David Warner dismissed for 34 in his final Test match. The Aussies are still trailing by 197 runs to Pakistan’s first-innings total of 318. Australia have already won the series by winning the first two Tests and is looking for a clean sweep.

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