Australia keep backing Cameron Green at first drop because he is the only route they have into fielding a genuine all-rounder in this XI. With Steve Smith locked in at four, Travis Head at five and Beau Webster valued at six, dropping him to fix the position would mean dropping a frontline seamer entirely rather than shuffling the order. His returns there have been thin, an average in the low-to-mid twenties across two separate stints, but selectors have chosen patience over panic before, and it paid off in 2023.
A Rocky Run Since The Axing Scare
His second stint as Australia’s Test No.3 has never quite settled. Recalled as a batter-only option for the 2025 WTC final and the West Indies tour while rehabbing a back injury, he opened with 4, 0, 3 and 15 before finding rhythm with 26, 52, 46 and 42, useful on tough Caribbean pitches but an average barely above 23. It was a reminder that the role can flatter a bowler’s reputation just as easily as it can expose a batter’s gaps.
The 2025-26 home Ashes, his first series batting and bowling together at three, brought fresh scrutiny. Scores of 0 and 7 in Adelaide reignited talk of dropping him, and by the Melbourne finale Australia had shuffled him to seven as Head opened and Marnus Labuschagne returned. He finished with just 112 runs at 18.66, even as Australia retained the urn 4-1.
WTC 2025-27 Cameron Green batting position
He enters the new World Test Championship cycle still occupying first drop, a position settled into out of necessity as much as design. With Smith locked in at four, Head at five and Webster valued at six, three is effectively his only route into the XI as a genuine all-rounder, the alternative being a straight swap for a specialist batter.
Chief selector George Bailey has said there is no rush to reshuffle the order, framing his continued presence at three as much about squad balance and workload management as about recent form.
Series | Innings | Runs | Average |
WTC Final + v West Indies (2025) | 8 | 188 | 23.50 |
Ashes 2025-26 (v England) | 6 | 112 | 18.66 |
Career Test average (all positions) | 62 | 1,736 | 32.75 |
The Numbers Behind His Recent Returns
Across his last two assignments at first drop, he has batted roughly 15 times for around 300 runs at an average in the low-to-mid 20s, below the 40-plus usually expected of a Test No.3. His overall Test average sits at 32.75 from 37 matches, respectable for a bowling all-rounder but short of his pre-2023 numbers. That gap between promise and production is exactly what keeps the selection debate alive heading into a fresh cycle.
Selectors have leaned on context here. Several of his better Caribbean scores came on pitches where almost nobody passed 30, and he averages 67.09 at first-class level in the position for Western Australia, suggesting the struggle may be about workload more than technique.
The Alternatives Waiting In The Wings
The queue is not short. Marnus Labuschagne, recalled for the Ashes after a prolific Shield return with Queensland, remains the most senior alternative with genuine pedigree at first drop. Each of them offers a different profile, from Labuschagne’s proven method to Webster’s growing case as an all-round alternative.
Beau Webster, with four fifties in nine Test innings and strong showings in Galle and at the WTC final, is the in-house favourite to replace him as the all-rounder if selectors want fewer overs from the position. Mitchell Marsh, who took the job in 2023, remains a contingency, while Western Australia’s Jayden Goodwin and Tasmania’s Jake Weatherald have also been floated.
Silencing Doubters Is Still The Task
Selectors have been explicit that his place is not conditional on one score. Commentator Gerard Whateley summarised the mood during the Ashes by noting he is under pressure to perform but not under pressure over his spot in the team.
Bailey has pointed to a rare skill combination, a frontline seamer who also bats in the top four, as a reason to persist, echoing the patience shown after the 2023 axing that ended in a recall and an unbeaten 174 at No.4. The entire WTC 2025-27 Cameron Green batting position debate ultimately comes down to whether Shield-level output can finally become Test runs before patience runs out.
Should Australia stick with Green at first drop through this whole WTC cycle, or is patience finally running thin? Have your say below.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Is Cameron Green in danger of being dropped from the Australian Test side?
Not immediately; selectors have said his place is currently secure. Continued low scores at first drop would likely revive the debate before the next home series.
What is Cameron Green’s batting average at No.3?
It sits in the low-to-mid 20s across his two recent stints at the position. That is well below his career Test average of 32.75 from 37 matches overall.
Why does Australia keep picking Cameron Green in this XI?
Selectors value his rare skill set as a frontline seamer who also bats in the top four. They have shown a consistent pattern of persisting through his lean patches with the bat.
Who could replace Cameron Green in the Australian top order?
Marnus Labuschagne, Beau Webster and Mitchell Marsh are the most-discussed options. Western Australia’s Jayden Goodwin and Tasmania’s Jake Weatherald have also been floated as longer-term possibilities.
Has Cameron Green ever been dropped from the Test side before?
Yes, he lost his spot during the 2023 Ashes to Mitchell Marsh. He was recalled at No.4 after David Warner’s retirement and scored an unbeaten 174.
Disclaimer: This blog post reflects the author’s personal insights and analysis. Readers are encouraged to consider the perspectives shared and draw their own conclusions.