Last Updated on 2 years by Charbel Coorey
Cricket News: Cameron Green is a ‘once-in-a-generation’ cricketer – R Ashwin | Ashwin comments on Cameron Green
Indian off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin hailed Cameron Green as a once-in-a-generation cricketer after the towering all-rounder slammed a prolific century (114) on the second day of the fourth Test between the two teams in Ahmedabad on Friday. Green partnered with opener Usman Khawaja (180) to put up a formidable 208-run partnership for the fifth wicket and help Australia get to a dominant total of 480 runs in the first innings.
Taking 170 deliveries for his 114, Green notched 18 boundaries and manoeuvred India’s spin trio seamlessly to bring up his maiden ton in Indian shores.
“I hope you tuned into the IPL auction. It just tells you how the Indian cricket fraternity rates Cameron Green. I think he is a fantastic player. Just the raw material he has, tall, lovely levers, good batting sense, can hit the deck hard while bowling, moves pretty well; these are once-in-a-generation cricketer that you are talking about,” Ashwin exclaimed at the end of second day’s play, as reported by Hindustan Times (HT).
The 23-year-old has induced incredible balance to the Australian playing XI ever since making a comeback in the third Test after missing out from the opening two Tests due to a finger injury. Green’s introduction allowed Australia to play a pacer less in favour of an additional spinner. That enabled them to crack down the Indian batting order in Indore.
Moreover, his proficiency with the bat came to the fore in this Test as he tackled the Indian bowling unit with perfection on a placid playing surface. Overall, he has added great strength in all departments of the Australian playing XI. Ashwin also reflected on his careful handling and workload management by the Australian team management – even indicating that such a delicate approach in missing in the Indian cricketing ecosystem.
“However, we come from different countries, India is very different. We can’t protect such players for longer periods of time. It is perform or perish (in India). In countries like Australia and England, these cricketers are groomed pretty well. Expect Cameron Green to be a wonderful cricketer down the line,” the 36-year-old, who picked a six-wicket-haul in the first innings, further remarked.
