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Green in jeopardy? Bharat's defence of under fire Aussie
Abby Crozier • December 19th, 2025 8:48 am
Bharat Sundaresan has come into bat for Cameron Green amid his struggle for form in the 2025 Ashes series.
Falling for a two-ball duck during Australia's first innings in Adelaide, the all-rounder has once again faltered at the crease, having been questioned significantly over his performances across all three Test matches thus far.
Returning from injury in time for the first Test, Green hasn't quite hit the ground running, now averaging just 29 runs from his 26 innings on home soil.
Taking a realistic approach, Bharat came to the defence of the Aussie, taking umbrage on his behalf over the suggestion he should be ousted.
“I don’t think his spot is in jeopardy yet,” Bharat said on SEN's The New Ball.
"There are arguments to be made about bringing Beau Webster back in – it's not the worst argument... you can see where it comes in.
"But Green played some crucial hands in the Caribbean, and look, that’s just how team sport work - you make long term investments. Cam Green has been a long-term project for this Australian team.
"(We) have seen what he can do… we have seen it in Shield cricket, his white ball skills are just going through the roof."
Recently sold for a record-breaking fee ahead of the upcoming IPL season, the all-rounder's ability is hardly in question - Green is magnificent with ball in hand and one of the world's best gully fieldsmen. Rather, the frustrations surround his inability to utilise his talents at Test level.
"He is 2.9 million richer and deservedly so – there’s nothing to take away from the value that Cam Green brings to whichever IPL team he goes to," he said.
"(We) know he brings that kind of value. He can and should do Test cricket after having played the number of Test matches he has.
"That is why, I think, that people are getting restless around Green. When is that big innings going to come?
"I am restless – I’ve seen the best of Cam Green. He puts so much work into his cricket.
"He isn’t one of those flashy young cricketers who has all the talent in the world but isn’t making the most of it – that’s not the case at all. He puts in as much work as a Steve Smith or a Marnus – but it just isn’t clicking for him.
"The last two (Tests) in Aus (have brought) criticisms. He is a nervous starter, but with that average on Australian soil now down to 29 after six summers, and now being into the third Test – this has to be the summer of Green.
"Six years in, six summers in – give us something."
Concurring with Bharat, SEN Cricket's Tom Morris added, “Cam Green’s struggles are laid bare in front of us because we expect so much.
"There’s nothing that frustrates Australian cricket fans more than someone who’s touted so highly and then doesn’t deliver to the level we expect. Whether fair or unfair, (we) end up going – 'hang on what are we watching? What are we putting all this time into?'
"Meanwhile blue collar all-rounders like Beau Webster, who’s dominated shield cricket for a couple of years (and has) done well at Test level – who’s then left out of the team... it just doesn’t stack up.”
"I don’t think his spot is in jeopardy now, but it’s an ongoing conversation. If he can’t quite nail that middle order batting spot – whether its five, six or even seven at some stage, (his spot may be up for grabs).
"I believe he will have a sweet spot in his Test career where he is one of the best Test batters in the world at some stage – it might happen.
"The challenge for him is (if he) can make that a five- or six-year run, and he’s not even close to that at the moment.
"Australia wants to see big hundreds on these shores from a player that’s been touted so highly and he hasn’t been able to deliver that yet… he is under pressure to perform."
Green and Australia remain
