Cameron Green’s fighting century may have come in a losing cause, but it gave Australia something positive to take away from their heavy Test defeat to Bangladesh in Darwin on Sunday. The all-rounder scored 104 from 201 balls as Australia recovered from a difficult position to take a 56-run lead.
However, Bangladesh needed just 57 runs in the final innings and chased it down comfortably to complete the win.
Green’s Century Earns High Praise Former Australian wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist said Green’s innings could provide a model for him to follow in the future, especially given the expectations surrounding the 26-year-old. "He is a big man who shoulders a lot of responsibility. He has had a lot of expectations on him," Gilchrist said as quoted by Fox Cricket. "There is a blueprint there for Cameron Green to follow and look to execute now. It is one of the positive stories out of what has been a really tough match for the Australians," he added. Former Australia cricketer Kerry O'Keeffe also backed Green to become a key part of the batting order, praising how he built his innings. "Cameron Green has been brilliant. He had the rhythm of a number five (and) the way he's constructed this innings is a good thing going forward," he said. "If he gets his mental side right, he has the capacity to bat five and score big, but then, when Steve Smith moves on, to bat at four and be a real player for Australia. The inner sanctum have always believed he fits and you can sense a long career ahead of him now," he added.
Bangladesh Dominate Australia Australia were bowled out for 198 in the first innings, despite Steve Smith’s 71. Bangladesh responded with 426, led by Tanzid Hasan’s 101, while Najmul Hossain Shanto and Mehidy Hasan Miraz scored 84 and 65 respectively. Australia then slipped to 73/3 before Green, Smith and Alex Carey helped them recover and take a 56-run lead. Bangladesh’s Miraz and Mahmud took five and three wickets respectively before Bangladesh chased down the target without trouble.