The Ashes: Cam Green’s spot in Australian team under intense scrutiny after dismissal slammed as ‘rubbish’

West Australian all-rounder Cam Green could be dropped for the first time in his Test career, with the heat rising on his spot in the side after another ugly dismissal. Green was out flailing at a Ben Stokes delivery short and wide outside-off as part of a wild Australian collapse on the second day of the chaotic Boxing Day Test in Melbourne. And WA great Simon Katich has launched into the 26-year-old, describing his batting as “pre-determined rubbish”. The looming spectre of fellow all-rounder Beau Webster — who deputised for Green while he was out with a back injury — is increasing the pressure. Green made 17 in the first innings of the Melbourne Test before running himself out in a bizarre incident, then a streaky 19 as Australia set England just 175 to win. Former Australian opener Katich said Green had become too predictable and was premeditating strokes. “We talked it about a couple of balls before about the fact that Green is pressing forward, he had done that for a number of balls,” Katich said on Seven. “It was the same in Brisbane. He got so predictable and he got bowled from backing away from the stumps. But on this occasion, Ben Stokes knows that he keeps pressing forward, so what does he do? Brings his length back and Cameron Green is in no position to play that ball. “On the move, not balanced with his foot, particularly his back foot, it’s just premeditated batting. “It’s predetermined rubbish. Watch the ball and play it instinctively off the track.” Green ticked past 100 runs for the entire series in his seventh innings on Saturday. The Subiaco-Floreat product is a notoriously nervy starter and stand-in captain Steve Smith backed him to go on with his efforts. He also copped heat for a reckless shot under lights in the Brisbane Test where he backed away to the leg-side and attempt to blaze a Brydon Carse ball away through covers. “Greeny, he’s had a few nice starts as well, just hasn’t been able to go on with it and get the results he’s been after, but we know he’s a quality player,” Smith said. “He’s done it against some good oppositions in the past and hopefully he can turn it around,” After being demoted to No.7 — behind Alex Carey and Usman Khawaja — in this match, he then batted at No.8 with Scott Boland serving as a nightwatchman. It means he has batted in every position between No.3 and No.8 since the 2024 tour of New Zealand. Green returned to the side batting at No.3 in the mid-year World Test Championship final and in a series against West Indies, during which captain Pat Cummins anointed him their “long-term” man in the position.