George Bailey is confident Cam Green can coexist with Beau Webster in the same Test team, but Australia’s chief selector has remained guarded on the WA all-rounder’s prospects of bedding down a spot in the batting order.
After playing alongside each other in the final Test of last year’s Ashes, the all-rounders appear likely to line up alongside each other in a pair of Tests against Bangladesh in Darwin and Mackay next month after both being named in a 13-player squad.
Travis Head’s elevation to the top of the order against England created a vacancy at No.5 which was initially filled by Green, but the 27-year-old finished the summer at No.7 after a series of diminishing returns with the bat.
Although Usman Khawaja’s retirement has again left Australia’s No.5 slot vacant, Bailey turned down the chance to confirm Green — who has filled four different batting positions for Australia’s Test side across the last 12 months — would be carded there against Bangladesh.
But he was more forthcoming on the prospect of Green and Webster being deployed in tandem as Australia confront a gruelling run of as many as 21 Tests across the next 12 months.
“They have played together in the past and we think it can work,” Bailey said.
“Without knowing what the output required is going to be, the fact that they both can bowl will be, I’m sure, important across the next 18 months.
“Cam, in particular, has probably batted across a number of positions in that batting line-up, as have a number of other players within that team who we....
