Australian all-rounder Cam Green could be in for a million-dollar payday on Friday following a highly anticipated Indian Premier League auction, but says he’s happy biding his time during a “weird” summer where he has been an under-the-radar member of a successful Test team.
All eyes will be on the IPL auction on Friday evening Australian time to see whether Green can fetch a mega payday to play in the world cricket’s most lucrative tournament.
After a profitable and eye-catching T20 tour of India early this year, which saw him post scores of 61 from 30 balls and 52 from 21 deliveries, Green’s white ball stocks have soared with IPL suitors very interested in the 23-year-old’s services.
Many expect Green to secure a major contract, exceeding one million dollars, when bidding gets underway.
A bidding war is precisely what the exciting young cricketer will be hoping for and if multiple franchises have banked on snapping up Green, it will be fascinating to see what price he goes for.
However, respected Indian broadcaster Harsha Bhogle said Green’s lack of bowling might lower his price tag.
Cameron Green bats at the Gabba in Australia’s first Test against South Africa.Credit:Getty Images
“Going big on Cam Green would be a gamble given how little he has played and bowled in T20,” Bhogle tweeted on Thursday to his nine million followers. “Unpopular opinion: I would pay more for [37-year-old Namibia all-rounder] David Wiese than Green.”
There is no questioning Green’s dedication to the baggy green but big IPL paydays – particularly in the coming years – will create major headaches for Cricket Australia when it comes to managing Green’s workload.
Green will have to squeeze in IPL duties – should he get picked up in the auction – between gruelling Test tours of India and then the UK for next year’s Ashes.
For now, Green is more focused on trying to make runs and take wickets in upcoming matches against South Africa.
A lock at No.6 and Australia’s fourth seamer, it has been a quiet summer for Green. He hasn’t passed 20 from four innings and has underwhelming combined bowling figures of 2-144.
With Australia romping to victories in Perth, Adelaide and Brisbane, Green’s spot is safe, but even he concedes it’s an awkward position to be in.
“It’s definitely been a weird summer for myself not having to do too much,” Green said. “It’s probably a sign of how well the team is playing. We’ve been winning games of cricket and that’s what you want. As a teammate watching how well the guys are playing … it’s awesome.
“I feel like I’m in a pretty good space batting-wise. I’m hitting the ball well. If you don’t get game time, that’s pretty much the only way you can tell how you’re going. I feel pretty good in the nets.
Cameron Green and Mitchell Starc celebrate a wicket against South Africa.Credit:AP
“Being the all-rounder, you’re the guy to help out if the team needs it. At the moment it feels like I’m not really needed in a way. That’s a sign of how well we’re playing.”
Green shouldered arms to questions about the Gabba pitch, on the basis he wasn’t out in the middle long enough during the first Test against South Africa to make an assessment.
MCG curators have been put on high alert after a lively Brisbane pitch that saw 34 wickets fall across two chaotic days in a six-wicket Australian win.
“Thankfully I missed the new ball,” Green said. “That was very much a new-ball wicket. When I went out to bat in about the 30th over [in the first innings] it wasn’t doing as much. I felt safe.
“We play on a lot of those wickets at the Gabba in Shield cricket. Maybe the difference is there’s guys bowling 150 [kilometres per hour] on it.”
From two Tests at the MCG, against India and England, Green averages 24.7 with the bat and 23 with the ball.
