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    Cameron Green will focus on preparing for the red-ball format ahead of the upcoming Tests against India
Cameron Green will focus on preparing for the red-ball format ahead of the upcoming Tests against India
By Getty Images

Cameron Green will focus on preparing for the red-ball format ahead of the upcoming Tests against India

The versatile player is unlikely to participate in the limited-overs matches against Pakistan in November.

Cameron Green may miss Australia's limited-overs series against Pakistan at the beginning of the next home summer, before a five-match Test series against India, to play Sheffield Shield cricket. This decision comes after the selectors saw the benefits of keeping him focused on red-ball cricket before the Wellington Test, where he delivered a match-winning 174 not out.

Despite being in the frame to play in the T20 World Cup in June, Green was left out of Australia's squad for the three-match T20I series against New Zealand. The selectors did not consider calling him in late, even when both Marcus Stoinis and Aaron Hardie were withdrawn due to injury.

Instead, they chose to leave him in Australia to play a Shield match for Western Australia against Tasmania at Bellerive Oval. He made an unbeaten 103 to help WA secure a draw on the final day. After his stunning century on the opening day at Basin Reserve, Green himself credited the preparation. He was the only player in the match to score more than 71 on a tricky batting surface and was one of only three players to score more than 42.

After the second Test in Christchurch, which begins on Friday, Australia will not play another Test until the Border-Gavaskar series starts at home in late November.

In September, Australia is scheduled to tour England for five ODIs and three T20Is, followed by hosting Pakistan in three ODIs and three T20Is in November, just before India's arrival.

Green is expected to be a permanent fixture in both the ODI and T20I sides, as several senior players are set to retire after the World Cup in June. Coach Andrew McDonald has already prioritised Green's red-ball preparation for next summer, while also using the ODIs to build towards the 2025 Champions Trophy.

McDonald emphasised that not all multiformat players require the same specialised preparation before the India series. Australia has been content to have their three all-format fast bowlers, Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood, play white-ball matches before major Test series, with the lower bowling loads at higher intensity proving adequate preparation for a long summer of five Tests or more.

Jonny Bairstow, the struggling England batsman, appears to be fighting to save his Test career as the fifth and final match against India begins in Dharamsala on Thursday.

Bairstow will be looking to win his 100th cap as England, already 3-1 down in the series, try to salvage some pride in the high and chilly Himalayan mountain town.

Ravichandran Ashwin, the Indian spinner, is also in line to play his 100th Test, having already passed the milestone of 500 Test wickets during the series.

Former wicketkeeper Bairstow is in the team as a specialist batsman since Ben Foakes took over wicketkeeping duties. However, he has only scored 170 runs at an average of 21.25 during the series.

The 34-year-old has struggled since his return to the team last year after breaking his leg in a freak golfing accident.

He has played 10 Tests since his recovery, but has not scored a century and has a highest score of only 38 in eight innings in India.

Former England captain Michael Vaughan wrote in his column for the UK’s Telegraph newspaper that reaching 100 caps is a great triumph of resilience and sentiment.

Vaughan's comments suggest that while the player deserves recognition for reaching 100 caps, his recent performances have been lacking. However, he also noted that the player in question has not played well enough across the 10 Tests he’s been back in the side, especially in India.

Bairstow is known for his aggressive batting style and is a crucial player at No. 5 in England's lineup, which is known for its attacking 'Bazball' style of cricket.

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