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Green revels in early Kohli lessons

3 minute read

Cameron Green had the tough ask of starting his international career bowling to Virat Kohli, but he could see the immediate upside in it.

CAMERON GREEN
CAMERON GREEN Picture: Paul Kane/Getty Images

Cameron Green already knows there aren't many better introductions to international cricket than the one he received from Virat Kohli.

Green's debut remained the talking point of Australian cricket on Thursday, after showing signs of potential in Wednesday's ODI debut against India.

With the one-day series done, Green will stick around for the Twenty20s starting Friday.

Green's figures of 0-27 and 27-ball 21 appear modest, but there were signs of why Greg Chappell has labelled him Australia's best talent since Ricky Ponting.

Particularly when you consider what the 21-year-old was up against.

His Australia coach Justin Langer had the might of the West Indies and Curtly Ambrose, wearing one on the head early in his introduction to international cricket.

In Shane Warne's debut he copped the full force of Sachin Tendulkar and Ravi Shastri with figures of 1-150.

And when Green ran in to bowl for his first piece of international action on Wednesday night, he was running in at none other than Kohli.

"Bowling to Virat you can just see there is a step up in how good of a cricketer they are," Green said on Thursday.

"I tried to bowl a bumper to Virat and he was onto it so quick."

Green's lessons came thick and fast.

He dotted Kohli up with his first four balls before being sent to the boundary going too short and too full, before twice beating his bat in his third over.

And with the bat he had Aaron Finch down the other end keeping him calm as he swept Ravindra Jadeja for six before being caught in the deep.

"Their spinners I havne't faced quality like that," Green said.

"Jadeja is a beautiful bowler who knows exactly what he's trying to do: Spin some away from you and dart one back in.

"You can do as much research and watch as much footage as you want to get an understanding how they bowl

"But it's a different beast out in the middle. I will take a lot out of it."

Green remains every chance of featuring in the T20 series, given Australia are without Marcus Stoinis and David Warner.

If Alex Carey is bumped up the order Green will likely hold a spot as part of a middle-order reshuffle.

The lighter workload with the four-over maximum with the ball could also hold him in good stead over Moises Henriques regardless.

Green is also aware the next auditions for the Test team begin in Sydney next week, with three-day games starting both Sunday and Friday.

But for now he has no issue staying with the short-form group, given he could still play in the second of those matches against India's touring party.

"It's not really up to me to be fair," he said.

"It's in the back of my mind there is a Test series coming up so preparing for that.

"But you've definitely got to prepare for where you are right now, and that's with the T20 guys."

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