The least disruptive route would be to take the rare option of not playing a frontline spinner, leave out Todd Murphy, who was sparsely deployed at Leeds, and use Green as part of an all-speed attack augmented by Travis Head, but coach Andrew McDonald has been adamant about how he prefers a balanced bowling group.
Marsh and Green have even been put forward as possible options, as they’ve done it in white-ball cricket – Marsh recently in ODIs and Green in T20s – although neither have regularly topped No. 4 in first-class cricket, and it remains a very unlikely solution.
“I think it’s a bit long,” said Green of the possibility of opening the batting in the fourth Test. “I think I’m an all-rounder [makes it a stretch] – probably Shane Watson is the only one thinking of doing that – [and] I’m not sure how much he bowled.”
Watson was called back to open the bat midway through the 2009 Ashes and it became his most successful position in Test cricket, averaging 41.79. On average he bowled nearly 15 overs in those matches and claimed the third most wickets (43) by a pace bowler who had opened the batting. Green is currently averaging just over 13 overs per test.
“I think everyone would like to bat anywhere to play Test Cricket,” added Green. “You always raise your hand for selection, but you have to wait and see what selectors think of it.”
“It’s been a tour with a lot of learning so far,” Green said. “Usually I’ve gotten myself out rather than dealing with the conditions. I think that has to do with the wickets, it’s been pretty flat. I’m just trying to learn as much as I can and hopefully it will hold me.” good for moving forward.”
Unlike most of the side who have taken a full break in the gap for Old Trafford, Green has continued to train. He said his absence from the third Test was a very precautionary measure and he could have continued. He picked up the hamstring nibble in the second innings at Lord’s and was able to bowl 13 overs afterwards, including the sustained short-ball approach.
“[There were] no real problems at the time, it was more that it was just a long tour, so I think everyone wanted to take a break during one of the games, so that was my game,” he said. “The body is fine. Felt totally fine bowling. I think I just left for a single and felt something really, really small.
Green and Marsh are very close and while the latter’s excellent return to Test cricket may mean Green must now wait for his next appearance, there was joy in his team-mate’s success.
“We both have a great relationship,” he said. “We are so happy for each other when one gets picked… I kind of look up to Mitch so I’m so happy to see him playing well. I had no doubts he would come back to play. ” an incredible game, which he did.”
Andrew McGlashan is deputy editor at ESPNcricinfo