There were plenty of eyebrows raised when, at the IPL 2023 auction, Mumbai Indians made a record-signing of INR 17.5 crore (AUD 3.15 million dollars) for Australian all-rounder Cameron Green, the 23-year-old who has a mediocre record in T20Is so far: averages 16.33 with the bat striking at 137.64, and 39.80 with the ball with an economy rate of 9.04.
Even though Cameron Green has played only in 8 T20Is, it was what he did when he faced India that would have pushed Mumbai Indians to bid hard for him: opening in the T20I series against India, Green smashed 61 off 30 balls in Mohali and 52 off 21 in Hyderabad and hogged all the limelight.
Just three days after he landed the astronomical personal deal, though, Cameron Green showed why MI splurged such a big amount for him by taking a five-wicket haul against South Africa in the ongoing Boxing Day Test at the MCG.
Although it’s a different format, this was a statement from Cameron Green that he isn’t worrying too much about his price tag at the IPL or whether he’s worthy of it as the fans are talking. Green went about his business and took his maiden Test five-wicket haul to help Australia bowl the opposition out for 189.
Mumbai Indians fans are very happy after seeing Cameron Green take five-for
Australia captain Pat Cummins won the toss and was elected to field on a MCG surface that had a decent amount of grass. This decision to bowl first from Cummins also perhaps serviced from the fact that they had bowled South Africa out for 152 and 99 in the first Test in Gabba.
Cameron Green’s first wicket today number 3 batter and debutant Theunis de Bryun, who nicked off to wicket-keeper Alex Carey at the stroke of lunch.
Australia were looking for a partnership breaker and Green turned into one, breaking Kyle Verreynne (52) and Marco Jansen’s (59) 112-run stand for the 6th wicket.
Green went on a roll and ripped through the lower-order of South Africa. He took the wickets of Veereynne, Jansen, and Kagiso Rabada in the space of seven balls. The youngster wrapped up the Protea innings by cleaning up Lungi Ngidi and clinched his maiden Test five-wicket haul.
