Source :- PERTH NOW NEWS
Cameron Green has declared himself fit to play in the series decider in Cape Town, with the allrounder believing he has found the way he wants to bat in Test cricket.
Green was one of five Australians at an optional session at Newlands on Saturday, batting for over an hour ahead of Tuesday’s third Test against South Africa.
There were some clues to Australia’s make up for the third Test at training, with Matt Renshaw having an extended stint facing the new ball in the nets.
He would be an option to move to open if Nic Maddinson is dropped as expected, potentially opening the door for Green to return at No.5.
Questions also loom over Marnus Labuschagne and Beau Webster, with Josh Inglis fit and Cooper Connolly another option to come in.
Veteran spinner Nathan Lyon also trained after being left out of the second Test. He spent a long time looking at dry Cape Town pitch and speaking with the curator.
If the pitch is flat as expected, he will likely come back in and create a squeeze between Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Starc and Scott Boland for two spots.
Green, meanwhile, did some bowling on Saturday but is expected to operate only as a batter when he returns from an abdomen injury suffered in an ODI last month.
The 27-year-old was struck in the groin in that match before straining his abdomen two balls later, and does believe the two situations were related.
“I’m all good to go,” Green said.
“I got hit where you don’t want to get hit, then two balls later went to play a shot and had to lengthen my muscle. I think my muscle wasn’t keen to move after I got hit.
“(But) I’m pretty surprised with how quick it has healed and how functional I feel only a few weeks after.”
Green also faced a newer ball at training on Saturday, but only for a short part of his hour in the nets.
He scored a century at No.5 against Bangladesh in August, before Renshaw had success there in the first Test against South Africa with his 190 and 81.
“I have obviously had a lot of experience up and down the order,” Green said.
“I think I am well suited at No.4 and No.5, but obviously we have had some pretty incredible cricketers bat in those positions.
“I am happy to move up and down the order depending what the team wants.”
Green’s injury came at a frustrating time, with scores of 104 and 67 against Bangladesh ending a run of 11 Test innings without a half-century.
The West Australian said he had taken lessons from the way he approached the last round of Sheffield Shield last season and hit 135, by returning to his more natural game.
Green has worked on being more side on and balanced at the crease in the past nine months, in a bid to get back to the right tempo for Test cricket.
In turn he has narrowed his range of shots and returned to being more conservative, after admitting having more weapons from white-ball cricket hindered him.
“There were probably learnings I took from the last Shield game I played, how I wanted to play. It felt pretty natural to me,” Green said.
“I found a way I like to play the game that hasn’t been there for the past few years.
“I tried to change my game to adapt to international cricket or the best way I saw fit.
“I probably went away from how I played the game naturally, but that was how I felt in the top-end series.”
