New Delhi, Nov 18 (NationPress) Cameron Green expressed his eagerness to showcase his maximum speed against England in the Ashes, citing that his titanium-stabilised spine has helped him surpass the 140kph mark in a match for the first time since undergoing back surgery.

During an appearance on cricket.com.au’s Unplayable Podcast, the Australian all-rounder shared that his recent performance in the Sheffield Shield boosted his confidence to endure a demanding workload throughout the five-Test series. “It felt really good,” Green reflected on the 16 overs he bowled against Queensland. “It was 35 degrees on day one, and I wondered, ‘Have I completely lost my bowling fitness?’ But seeing other bowlers struggling too was reassuring. My body felt great afterward – so that’s a big tick.”

Green acknowledged that while he has been bowling frequently in the nets, the match environment reignited an intensity he had longed for. “Nothing compares to the intensity of bowling in a game. You reach a level that isn’t achievable in the nets,” he remarked. “I pushed hard in training but couldn’t attain the airspeed I found quite easily during the match… they clocked me at 140 (kph).”

His resurgence in pace follows significant lower-back surgery in October of last year, a procedure increasingly adopted by fast bowlers like Jasprit Bumrah and James Pattinson. The surgery involved the insertion of titanium screws into his spine, which Green now feels has made him more robust.

“I have the confidence it will be fine. Perhaps that’s a bit too naïve, but with metal in my back, I hope it’s more durable than bone,” he stated. “If anything, it serves as a confidence booster.”

Green admitted that he might not have had enough competitive overs leading into the Ashes, but he believes this could serve Australia well. “I probably haven’t accumulated the competitive overs I would have preferred before this series. However, the upside is that I come in feeling really fresh,” he mentioned. “A five-Test series against England is taxing, and if you start off fatigued, you’ll be worn out by the end. Ideally, I’ll be in good form towards the end, whereas if I had overexerted myself in a few Shield games, I might not be.”

The 26-year-old is also adjusting to his role at No.3 in the Test lineup, a shift that initially posed challenges but ultimately resulted in consistent performances during the West Indies series. “It was my first experience batting at three,” Green revealed. “It didn’t go as planned, but it was beneficial to get that experience under my belt and work on a few things… There were definitely positives.” He noted that surviving in the Caribbean required a simplified approach.

“The pitches were so challenging that scoring a 40 or 50 was quite an achievement. I found that playing only the balls on my pads and keeping it compact was the best strategy. Expanding my game was incredibly difficult over there.”

Green, who has established himself as a key figure in both white-ball formats, stated that the demands of Test batting still necessitate a longer acclimatization period for him. “I sense a slight difference in my approach to white-ball compared to my best cricket in red-ball,” he explained.

“Over time, you learn your game better… You explore various combinations to find what works. I feel I’ve discovered a successful approach in white-ball cricket that makes me feel powerful and dominant. It’s just about finding the right balance in red-ball cricket, as the ball behaves entirely differently.”