Cameron Green Set for Bowling Return After Year-Long Layoff, Eyes Full Fitness for Ashes
Australian allrounder Cameron Green is poised to bowl in a competitive match for the first time in 12 months, confident he’ll be fully fit and without restrictions ahead of the highly anticipated Ashes series beginning next month.
Green, 26, hasn’t bowled since undergoing back surgery in October last year after suffering his fifth stress fracture. But after a meticulous rehabilitation program, he will make his long-awaited return this weekend in Western Australia’s Sheffield Shield opener against New South Wales at the WACA, starting Saturday.
“It’s been a long 12 months, but I’m feeling really good,” Green said on Friday. “The body’s in a good place. It’s been a really good rehab journey. I feel stronger, fitter, my action feels good.”
Careful Build-Up Before Ashes
Although Green will be eased into action — limited to just eight overs in the upcoming Shield match — he confirmed that there would be no bowling restrictions by the time the Ashes series kicks off at Optus Stadium in Perth on November 21.
“It will be eight overs for the [Shield] game. Just a steady build-up,” Green said. “The first Test should be no restrictions. That’s kind of the whole plan of the last year – to peak when the Ashes comes around.”
He is scheduled to play three Sheffield Shield matches and Australia’s ODI series against India before the Ashes begins, giving him ample opportunity to build both rhythm and match fitness.
Batting at No. 4 for WA, But Still a No. 3 Option for Tests
Despite being the incumbent Test No. 3 — having batted in that position in Australia’s last four Tests — Green will slot in at No. 4 for Western Australia, with the side preferring Jayden Goodwin at one drop. Green has an imposing first-class average of 67.09 in that position, including five centuries and six fifties, and has also excelled in Tests at No. 4, highlighted by his unbeaten 174 against New Zealand last year.
Although there are questions around whether Green can sustain the dual workload of bowling and batting at No. 3 in the high-pressure Ashes environment, he remains confident — especially with support from fellow allrounder Beau Webster, who could share the bowling burden.
“Shane Watson used to open the batting and bowl — people probably don’t realise how tough that was,” Green said. “But I think I’m in a bit of a different place. Let’s say I’m batting up the top, and Beau’s batting six — he might take more of the [bowling] load.”
Ashes Selection Race Intensifies
The early rounds of the Sheffield Shield have taken on extra significance this season, with several players in contention for Ashes spots. NSW’s Sam Konstas, considered a future star, will be keen to impress after struggling in the West Indies but bouncing back with strong performances for Australia A in India.
Other top-order candidates vying to partner Usman Khawaja include Marnus Labuschagne, Marcus Harris, Matt Renshaw, Josh Inglis, Jake Weatherald, Campbell Kellaway, Kurtis Patterson, Nathan McSweeney, and Cameron Bancroft.
As the countdown to the Ashes begins, all eyes will be on Green's bowling return — a key step not just for his personal comeback, but for Australia's balance and strategy in the marquee series against England.