Australian cricket captain Pat Cummins backs in Cam Green to flourish at first drop ahead of huge summer

Test captain Pat Cummins believes Cam Green is still Australia’s long-term No.3 as the star allrounder prepares to make his return to the bowling crease this weekend.

After missing the home summer last year with a back injury, Green found himself promoted to first-drop on his return to the Test side for the World Test Championship final following the emergence of Beau Webster.

After a shaky start, Green proved his mettle in the West Indies with three 40-plus scores in his last three innings in extreme conditions to help Australia secure a series sweep.

However, with Green fit to bowl, come the start of the Shield season, some have questioned if batting at No.3 and bowling is too much workload, a theory which Cummins denied.

“I don’t think they’re mutually exclusive,” Cummins told the Herald Sun.

“I think he proved over in the West Indies that he has the potential to be a long-term No.3.

“Maybe bowling creates another bit of an element. Traditionally, you try and put the bowler down in the middle order to give him a bit of a rest.

“But I don’t know, I don’t think it’s a huge thing. If you bat at three maybe you’ve done half your batting before you even get a bowl anyway, so you get just as long a break.”

It comes as Australia still has question marks on their opening combination and with a Shield bat-off looming, all eyes will be on Western Australia’s clash with New South Wales starting at the WACA Ground on Saturday.

Incumbent opener Sam Konstas will go head-to-head with Cameron Bancroft, while Green will be hoping to make a strong return to bowling to prove his fitness ahead of The Ashes.

If Green can bat and bowl at three, it allows fellow allrounder Beau Webster to remain in the side, which could be crucial given the fitness concerns over Australia’s fast bowling stocks.

WA quick Lance Morris has already been ruled out for the summer with a back injury, while teammate Jhye Richardson is still battling back from his latest shoulder injury with no timeline set on his return.

Cummins is also managing his own back concerns, while Josh Hazlewood played just two Test matches last summer after repeat injuries.

Green has previously said he had no qualms over where he bats, welcoming the challenge of going up the order.

“It’s like any job really, the more you do it, the more comfortable you do feel,” he told The West Australian earlier this month.

“I think you always want to bat higher up the order. There can be challenges with the slightly newer ball, but when you get through that it’s the best time to bat.

“This team is so good to get into, so I think you are very happy to bat where you’re required or where the coaches feel is best for you. There’s not a position that you’re locked in on. I’m very happy to be up the top.”

Cummins said Green and Webster’s contributions with the ball do not subtract from his batting talent.

“I think we’ve done it before with Mitch Marsh and Greeny, Mitch Marsh and other players,” he said.

“We’ve even had teams where we’ve had two wicketkeepers in (Alex Carey and Josh Inglis and previously Tim Paine and Matt Wade).

“We normally look at who we think is going to be the best kind of top six.

“Just because they both bowl doesn’t work against them; it probably works for them.”