Mark Waugh backs Cameron Green to change Australia's T20 fortunes

Waugh believes Green should replace Pat Cummins in Australia's XI and open the batting in place of Aaron Finch, who laboured to 31 not out off 42 balls against Sri Lanka

Cameron Green could be the player to turn Australia's T20 World Cup fortunes around, believes former selector and Australia international Mark Waugh.

Australia made a grim start to their title defence, losing to New Zealand by 89 runs after falling well short in their chase of 201.

They returned to winning ways against Sri Lanka three days later, completing a seven-wicket victory with 21 balls to spare, but the result flatters a poor performance.

Australia's blushes were spared by a blockbuster 59 not out (18 balls) from Marcus Stoinis – he scored the fastest T20I half-century by an Australian, raising his bat after just 17 balls – but question marks remain about Aaron Finch's position in the side. The skipper finished unbeaten on 31 but ate up 42 balls.

Waugh, however, has identified a different player who could make way for Green.

^{Aaron Finch struggled with the bat against Sri Lanka [James Worsfold/Getty Images]}

"It's easy when you haven't got anything on the line but I think the selectors have been very, very conservative for the last six months," he told RSN radio.

"I'd bring Cameron Green in, and I think I'd bring him in for Pat Cummins. I'd let Green open the batting. I know it's a bit of a gamble – it leaves your bowling a little short – but I think [he] can bowl four overs pretty much as good as any of the other bowlers at the moment."

Green, 23, has only made 20 T20 appearances across his career to date but has shown flashes of his potential on the international stage since making his debut in April 2022. In seven T20Is, he has scored 136 runs (two half-centuries) at a strike rate of 174.35 and taken five wickets.

He wasn't initially included in Australia's 15-strong squad but was called up as a last-minute replacement for Josh Inglis, who suffered a cut hand while playing golf.

Addressing Finch’s future, Waugh added: "They're probably not going to drop Aaron Finch at this stage in the game, are they? But I think Green should open the batting and just go with the extra batsman. Marcus Stoinis is bowling well enough to bowl four overs.

"[Finch's batting] puts a lot of pressure on the other batsmen."