Australian all-rounder Cam Green showcased the best bowling performance of his young interntional career during the first Ashes Test in a sign of what may be to come.
The 22-year-old is the youngest member of Australia’s XI and has been touted as the future of the national side through his talents with both bat and ball.
He showed glimpses of his power with the bat in his debut series against India last summer to average over 30 batting at no.6, but was slightly disappointing with the ball.
However, the tables turned at the Gabba as it was Green's efforts with ball in hand that were highly impressive.
Green bowled three overs in England’s first innings but still claimed the prize wicket of Ollie Pope for 35, however he was most impressive in the second innings when he took 2-23, including the prized scalp of Joe Root.
In fact, the youngster was bowling so well that former Australian fast bowler Damien Fleming would have given him the new ball.
“With an 85-over ball he bowls a picture-perfect outswinger to the number one batsman in the world and nicks him off,” Fleming told SEN Breakfast.
“I actually would have kept Green with the new ball.
“6’7 over 140 kilometres an hour and he bowls an outswinger.
“I don’t think we used him well last year, we bowled him with an old ball and he was generally told to bowl short.
“You can fill a role doing that but his big X-Factor is he’s got the out-swinger and we know that’s deadly, particularly at the top level.”
The last genuine all-rounder to play for Australia consistently was Shane Watson.
However, he retired from Test cricket in 2015, and try as they might, selectors have previously struggled to find the man to replace him.
SEN Test Cricket’s Adam Collins believes Greene could finally be the man to complete a five-man attack for Australia.
“(Greene) gives Pat Cummins a five-man attack, that’s exactly what Australia had when Shane Watson was in the team, and they have lacked for that since,” Collins told SEN SA Breakfast.
“If that’s something that Greene can be relied upon for in his new era under Pat Cummins, then I really think they have found something significant there.
“Important overs when it gets tough and the faith he’s been shown with the newer ball too.”
Green may shoulder more of the bowling load after Josh Hazlewood was ruled out of the second Ashes Test in Adelaide.
The day-night clash at Adelaide Oval starts on Thursday.