'Test summer is important' - Andrew McDonald on Cameron Green's red-ball prospects

As the fresh cricketing calendar unravels, Australia's selectors are strategizing all-rounder Cameron Green's pathway towards the highly anticipated Border-Gavaskar Trophy at home next summer. In the middle of a flurry of white-ball fixtures against Pakistan, the focus remains on preparing for the red-ball against a formidable Indian side, aiming to reclaim victory on home soil after almost a decade.

The all-rounder was instrumental in Australia's recent Test win over New Zealand, scoring a match-winning 174* in the Wellington Test. However, as the youngster has admitted, he has struggled in the past with the demands of juggling multiple formats.

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Expressing a preference for the five-day format in the lead-up to the India Tests, head coach Andrew McDonald emphasized the importance of providing Green with a consistent platform to hone his skills.

We know how good a white-ball player he is: McDonald

He articulated the selectors' intention to prioritize Test preparation over white-ball engagements, recognizing the pivotal role Green could play in securing success against India.

“We know how good a white-ball player he is, and if you put a priority on what it looks like next summer, the white-ball cricket is important, but geez that Test summer’s important. So with the results he’s had out there, he’ll probably come to us and say ‘Can you give us a couple of Shield games before the first Test against India?" he added.

While the likes of Usman Khawaja, Alex Carey, and Nathan Lyon are assured a focused lead-in as Test specialists, others such as Pat Cummins, Steve Smith, Mitch Marsh, Mitchell Starc, and Josh Hazlewood face a more varied preparation regimen.

“We thought his greatest challenge was flipping between the formats. So it’ll be an individual case-by-case, how we’re going to package this up, and we felt like keeping Cam in one format for some time gave him the best chance. That won’t always be the case with everyone,” the coach added.

Meanwhile, Marnus Labuschagne has been encouraged to start his innings more aggressively, even in difficult conditions. Labuschagne has also cut down his net practice to arrive sharper for matches.

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