If Australia is to prosper in the Ashes, they need Green and Smith making big hundreds. When they get in, they are an intimidating pair to bowl at.
Green showed his ability to nullify the new ball by facing more deliveries in his latest innings (123) than he did in his previous five visits to the crease as Australia’s No.3.
At times, the Grenada pitch was as volatile as the Caribbean island’s weather, which halted play several times throughout the morning.
As a first option, getting forward was a non-negotiable on this pitch, given how many balls shot through at shin height.
West Indies wicketkeeper Shai Hope was given a thorough work over, unsure if his toes or teeth were in greater danger on a pitch that is tailor-made for Australia’s experienced and metronomic pace trio in the fourth innings of this match.
Green’s breakthrough knock of 174 not out at No.4 against New Zealand in February last year showed he had the temperament and technique to make it as a top-order batsman, having hovered in the middle order.
However, it had been a lean run since then, either side of a serious back injury. As Australia’s No. 3 or No. 4, Green had followed up that big hundred with a string of modest scores: 25, 5, 4, 0, 3, 15 and 26.
Australia’s best young batting talent since Ricky Ponting, according to Greg Chappell, is too good a player to miss out again and again.
Green is a nervous starter, always eager to get bat on and ball with a tendency to play away from his body at times.
Australia’s Cameron Green celebrates scoring a half-century against the West Indies. Credit: AP
But Green’s strength lies in playing with the full face of the bat, and it was a beautiful straight drive to bring up his seventh Test half-century that had all the hallmarks of a young Ponting.
Next ball, disaster struck, as Green chopped a Shamar Joseph delivery back onto his stumps.
Usually level-headed, Green couldn’t hide his frustration, storming off the field with words muttered under his breath. He knew a third Test century was there for the taking.
Travis Head’s blistering cover drive off the first delivery he faced sent a sharp reminder to the West Indies that the job was far from done.
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It could have been worse for the home side, who sent a scare through the Australian camp by removing Smith and Beau Webster (two) in the space of two overs.
Smith was trapped in front by Justin Greaves, 29 runs shy of a 37th Test hundred, while Webster’s stellar start to Test cricket hit a speed bump when he edged the same bowler to third slip.
Head (39) and Carey (26 not out) offered reliable contributions once again as Seales, Shamar Joseph and Greaves all snared two wickets apiece.
From four Tests in Grenada, the highest successful fourth innings run chase is Bangladesh’s 6-217 against the West Indies in 2009.
One more productive day and the series will be Australia’s with one to play in Jamaica.
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