Cummins Backs Green for No. 3 Role as Australia Eye Ashes Stability

Pat Cummins has confirmed that Cameron Green will be given an extended run at No. 3 as Australia work to settle their Test batting order ahead of the Ashes later this year. Despite a lean return in the World Test Championship final — where he was dismissed twice by Kagiso Rabada across five balls — Cummins said it was too soon to judge the all-rounder, especially after a successful stint with Gloucestershire that featured three centuries. An opportunity had arisen for Green to move down to No. 4 following Steven Smith’s finger injury, a position where he had previously scored an unbeaten 174 against New Zealand, but Josh Inglis will fill that role in the upcoming Test in Barbados. “I always like to not have too many moving parts,” Cummins said, making it clear that the team sees Green as a long-term option at No. 3. Meanwhile, Marnus Labuschagne appears to have fallen down the pecking order, with Cummins suggesting he will have to score heavily in the Sheffield Shield to regain consideration. The Australia captain also expressed optimism about Smith’s recovery, indicating that he could be fit for the second Test in Grenada. As the team prepares to take on the West Indies, new Windies captain Roston Chase quipped about lingering scars from their famous victory at the Gabba last year, hoping it still plays on the visitors’ minds. Cummins responded by acknowledging the threat posed by Shamar Joseph and confirmed that Australia’s batters have been discussing strategies to counter him as they launch into the first Test of the Frank Worrell Trophy series.

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