Former captain of Australia ricky ponting A candid assessment of Cameron Green’s international trajectory, highlighting the all-rounder’s struggles in the current era. ashes series Despite its blockbuster ipl 2026 acquisition.
green, snatched by Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) The most expensive overseas player in IPL history with a record signing of ₹25.20 crore, he managed only 76 runs and two wickets in three Test matches as Australia won the series early. Ponting’s comments, shared during the ICC review, underline the gap between Green’s potential and his current output, even though his unique skill set keeps him in the selectors’ plans.
Ricky Ponting highlights Cameron Green’s modest career numbers
The 26-year-old Green made his Test debut against India in Adelaide five years ago, scoring 1,641 runs in 35 matches at an average of 32.82, including two centuries, while also taking 37 wickets. His standout innings include 114 in Ahmedabad during the 2023 Border-Gavaskar Trophy and an unbeaten 174 in Wellington in March 2024, which led Australia to a 172-run win over New Zealand. However, Ponting said that Green’s domestic average has dropped below 30, limited bowling impact following back surgery, and only two centuries in over 30 Tests, making it “As an international player, it is quite difficult to assess him yet.,
Ponting praised Green “Very complete package” When firing, citing his value in the dressing room where players and coaches “Love what he brings to the groupNevertheless, he pointed to inconsistency as the main issue, and urged the deep thinker to simplify his approach rather than constantly tinkering with it. It comes amid Australia’s decision to stick with Green at number seven and sideline rivals such as Beau Webster, whom Ponting described as ,unlucky player“After strong domestic performances this summer
Ponting’s expectations for IPL 2026 and advice for green turnaround
KKR’s mega bid for Green eclipsed Mitchell Starc’s previous overseas record of ₹24.75 crore in the IPL 2026 mini-auction in Abu Dhabi that included a bidding war between Mumbai Indians, Rajasthan Royals., And before KKR, Chennai Super Kings sealed the deal at a base price of ₹2 crore. Although Green gets ₹18 crore after the BCCI’s player development cut, KKR head coach Abhishek Nair sees him as the anchor of the top-order. andre russellTarget 500 runs among the top three with your powerplay skills. Anil Kumble supported this strategy and suggested Green to be placed at number three instead of finishing duties given the presence of Rinku Singh and Rovman Powell in KKR.
Green has an IPL track record of 707 runs and 16 wickets in 29 matches for Mumbai Indians (2023) and Royal Challengers Bangalore (2024), although he skipped IPL 2025 after recovering from back surgery. Now all set to bowl, his all-round skills match perfectly with KKR’s balance needs, especially after Russell. Ponting reacted to the auction talk with surprise – “Over ₹25 crore…that’s a lot of money!“—but Green’s long-term benefits are supported if he commits to a method.
Ponting advises Green in ICC reviewKeep things as simple as possible, think about what you have done in domestic cricket and take your domestic game to a Test match and support it for a while.,
While he believes exposure at the highest level will hone Green, he speculates that the selectors will be patient if he invests in more than 30 Tests. As Green eyes the Boxing Day Test and cashing in on IPL glory, Ponting’s measured criticism highlights the pressure on the ₹25.20 crore star to provide consistency across all formats. The confidence of his Australian teammates and KKR’s approach signals confidence, but Green’s development depends on mastering simplicity amid high stakes.
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