Source : ABC NEWS
Cameron Green’s eagerly awaited debut as the IPL’s most expensive overseas recruit ever has fallen flat, with his Kolkata Knight Riders captain frustrated the Australian all-rounder was not able to bowl in their six-wicket defeat to Mumbai Indians.
Asked after their six-wicket defeat why $3.8 million signing Green did not bowl while the rest of the attack were getting smashed all over the Wankhede Stadium, KKR captain Ajinkya Rahane just smiled and said pointedly: “A question you need to ask Cricket Australia.”
It has inevitably led to speculation in India that Green, whose promising start with the bat was ended when he was caught for 18 off 10 balls, is under some form of workload restriction by Cricket Australia to protect his fitness.
This month, former India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin suggested Green should have his pay cheque slashed if he did not bowl his allotted overs in the IPL.
Green, who has been carefully managed since he underwent back surgery in late 2024, has only bowled 43 deliveries in his past 10 matches, including a Sheffield Shield outing against NSW where he scored 135 and 25 this month.
He looked sprightly enough in the field in Mumbai and did whack a huge six and a four in a promising knock at number three until he got caught trying too hard to muscle a short one over deep point off Shardal Thakur.
But KKR did not need much help from Green with the bat anyway, as openers Rahane (67 off 40 balls) and Finn Allen (37 off 17), and Angkrish Raghuvanshi (51 off 29) helped power them to 4-220.
It meant Mumbai had to pull off the biggest-ever IPL chase at the Wankhede, and as Ryan Rickelton (81 off 43) and Rohit Sharma (78 off 38) pulverised their helpless attack in a staggering 148-run opening partnership, the questions only increased as to why Green was not being called on.
“If he’s not injured, why is he not bowling?” former England captain Kevin Pietersen kept asking from the commentary box with increasing bewilderment as Sharma sped to 50 off 23 balls and Rickelton reached the landmark in 24.
Asked about the impotence of his attack afterwards, Rahane said: “When, hopefully, Green starts to bowl soon in the competition, it will be slightly different.
“Finding that balance with the ball is really important, so hopefully Green starts to bowl soon, so we can find the combinations that will be OK.”
Eventually, Mumbai did stutter slightly as they approached the winning line, but captain Hardik Pandya (18* off 11) eased them across on 4-224 with five balls to spare.
AAP
