New Western Australian coach Beau Casson has responded to talk of a spat between Australian all-rounder Cameron Green and a journalist during WA’s Sheffield Shield clash with New South Wales at Sydney’s Cricket Central.
WA clung on for a draw on Tuesday, ending the final day’s play nine wickets down in a nailbiter, but it has been the action off the field that has caused the biggest stir.
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Fox Cricket revealed earlier this week that outgoing NSW coach Greg Shipperd paraded the Dean Jones Trophy – from last week’s one-day final triumph – past the room where the NSW board were interviewing Shipperd’s replacement, former Australian wicketkeeper Brad Haddin, after the third day’s play.
Haddin was officially announced as the new NSW coach on Wednesday, but the visitors were also tangled up in off field drama.
The Sydney Morning Herald’s chief sports writer Tom Decent published an article on Tuesday evening outlining a run-in he had with Green on Monday.
Green scored a century in WA’s first innings, his first red-ball ton since a county stint with Gloucestershire last year, but Decent wrote that the 26-year-old was angered by a question about his poor form across the summer.
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA – MARCH 15: Cameron Green of West Australia celebrates and acknowledges the crowd after scoring a century.Source: Getty Images
Decent alleged that Green stormed off “in a huff”, muttered “waste of time” and asked the journalist “why are you out to get me?” after the interview wrapped up in only 20 seconds.
Green batted in every position from No.5 to No.8 in Australia’s middle order during the Ashes and struggled to find the right answer – scoring 171 runs at 24.42 across the five Tests.
He then followed it up with a disappointing T20 World Cup campaign – scoring 24 runs at 8 – as Australia failed to advance from the group stages following losses to Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe.
Casson, who Decent said came over to apologise after Green walked off, did not believe the situation was as feisty as it has been made out to be.
“I think the question, from Cameron’s point of view, was not quite where it needed to be and he wanted to talk about the day’s play,” the former Australian spinner told SEN’s Tom Morris and Bharat Sundaresan on The New Ball.
“It didn’t play out that way and it’s probably a storm in a teacup.
“I’m sure he’ll have plenty more media interviews, Cameron, to be able to discuss where he’s at.
“I’m sure we’ll be able to put that to bed and we’ll be able to discuss more things moving forward.”
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Earlier in the interview, Casson stressed that the animosity levels were not overly high and that the depiction of the situation does not match Green’s character.
“I wouldn’t say a confrontation,” he said. “I think just misunderstood with the question asked.
“We were incredibly happy to have Cameron back. He played really in the first innings. Great to see him get some many balls (faced) under his belt. I know he’s had a thirst to do that – to be able to make the hundred and spend a lot of time out in the middle.
“It’s been a challenge for him over the last little period.
“But it’s important for people to know, he’s got a wonderful personality and he’s a lovely, soft man.
“I’m looking forward to allowing that to come to the fore in the future.
“Yeah, I wouldn’t say it was a confrontation, but it was nice to get an understanding of where things laid and what happened.”
13/06/2008 SPORT: Australian bowler Beau Casson delivers a ball as he makes his test cricket debut, during the second day of the third test match between the West Indies and Australia June 13, 2008 at the Kensington Oval in Bridgetown. AFP PHOTO/Emmanuel DunandSource: News Limited
In Decent’s article, he said his only question that did get answered was his opener about how pleasing it was Green to be back in the runs.
“Yeah, it’s obviously a great feeling,” he replied. “We’ve had a really good start the first three days, so hopefully we can get a win tomorrow.”