“That Test summer’s important” – Andrew McDonald looking forward to home series against India

Australia’s head coach Andrew McDonald is already looking forward to the home Test series against India. McDonald reckons Cameron Green can play a huge role for Australia while batting at number four against the Indians.

Green played a match-winning knock of unbeaten 174 while batting at four against New Zealand in the opening Test match at Wellington, which Australia went on to win by 172 runs. Meanwhile, India has beaten Australia while playing Downunder in 2018-19 and 2020-21 by 2-1.

India will tour Australia for five Test matches at the end of the ongoing year and the home team will look to seek their revenge.

The Australian chief coach wants Green to play more Shield games before the all-important Test series against India.

McDonald told reporters on Monday, “We felt that by keeping Cam in one format for a period of time gave him the best chance, and that won’t always be the case with everyone. The next stress point on that will be next summer, leading into the Indian Test series where we’ve got Pakistan in ODI cricket and T20 cricket. The white-ball cricket’s important, but geez that Test summer’s important, so I think with the results he’s had (at Wellington) he’ll probably come to us and say ‘can you give us a couple of Shield games before the first Test against India?’.”

McDonald reckons Green could be the long term option for Australia while batting at number four as the all-rounder also bats for Western Australia at the same position in the domestic circuit.

“His preferred position, as we’ve seen in Shield cricket, is number four and we think he can be a long-term option there. This is a big step towards that. The conversations are that he’s a quality player, and the statistics that everyone was looking at early in his (international) career probably didn’t reflect the player that was in front of us.”

The second Test match between New Zealand and Australia will be played at the Hagley Oval, Christchurch from March 8 onwards.