Cameron Green has stood up for Australia with the bat and in the field during an eye-catching first Test series, now the giant allrounder has a golden chance to show his potency with the ball.
Green is yet to capture his maiden Test wicket after bowling 41 overs this summer.
The 21-year-old has played an important holding role at times and, just as vitally in the eyes of selectors, given Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc some respite.
But the long wait for a scalp, already longer than any other Australian seamer in a series this century, has raised questions about why the young gun is yet to replicate some of the carnage he created in domestic cricket.
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READ NOWThe West Australian only returned to bowling in the final stages of the Sheffield Shield hub, having recovered from a back stress fracture suffered in the preceding season.
Steve Smith believes Green’s towering frame will ensure he is a weapon on Tuesday, when the Gabba pitch is predicted to play some tricks on an eagerly- anticipated final day of the four-Test series.
“He might actually be quite a handful with the ball,” Smith said.
“That extra bit of height and those cracks coming into play.
“I wouldn’t be surprised to see him firstly take his first wicket in Test cricket, which I know he’s pretty eager to get ... (but also have) a pretty reasonable day.”
It has been some 2280 days since Mitch Marsh was presented with his baggy green.
Green, who boasted a first-class batting of average of 55 and bowling average 21 when picked to debut in Adelaide, has carried a similar burden to Marsh as being the nation’s great hope of a game-breaking allrounder.
Green’s 236 runs are the most by an Australian No.6 in a maiden Test series since Michael Clarke announced himself in 2004.
The highlight has been topscoring in Australia’s second innings of the second and third Tests.
The right-hander scored 37 from 90 balls on Monday, when Smith argued the pitch made batting hard work.
“He batted really well. They bowled pretty well to him,” Smith said.
“The wicket started to do a few things. I reckon there was one over from (Thangarasu) Natarajan where he copped a few ... five balls in that over did five different things.
“All the boys have been really impressed with him (Green).”