The Australian camp is more than happy with Cameron Green’s Indian Premier League preparation for six Tests in England, confident “any cricket is preparation now”.
Green went deeper into the tournament than any other member of Australia’s squad that is preparing for next week’s World Test Championship final against India at the Oval.
The gun all-rounder joined in the first major training session for the Aussies at Beckenham on Thursday, the first time their full 17-man squad, including extra bowlers Michael Neser and Sean Abbott, had come together for a full day of centre-wicket nets practice.
Green only arrived in London around 24 hours before the session and had a lengthy batting session in contrast to some of his whirlwind batting efforts in India.
That included a blistering 47-ball century at the Wankhede Stadium 11 days ago that propelled Mumbai — who paid him $3.15m — into the IPL finals. Green finished the tournament with 452 runs, averaging 50, and also took six wickets.
With that in mind, the Australian coaching staff are taking a broader view to the 23-year-old’s white-ball-heavy workload ahead of six Tests in England, with the Ashes to follow the WTC final.
“Any cricket is preparation now. He is doing work in the background to make sure his bowling loads are up and he is actually ready for Test cricket,” assistant coach Daniel Vettori said.
“We look at it like if you are involved in high-intensity, high-class cricket, we are happy with that as it means you are playing cricket.
“The hardest thing for guys is coming out of nothing and that might be a challenge for a couple of guys who have had an extended break and how they get up to speed as quickly as possible.
“With Cameron, I think he has been playing so much cricket, he will be fine.”
Vettori was also conscious of the confidence Green’s stint in India, where he was playing on a $3m contract, would have given him and how it would enhance the important role he’d play in England.
“He offers so much to the team and had a great series in India for us and then is coming off the back of a successful IPL,” he said.
“It‘s great he’s got some confidence … he’s a huge part of the side.
“I think any team wants their all-rounder up and running because it makes everything else run so smoothly.”
The WTC final begins at The Oval on Wednesday, June 7.
