Western Australia have gone to stumps at 0-87 in reply to South Australia’s 215 on the opening day

Western Australia v South Australia | Sheffield Shield | Day 1

Cameron Green won’t bowl in a match again until the week before the Ashes, after being kept from sending a ball down in Western Australia’s Sheffield Shield match against South Australia.

WA went to stumps on the opening day at the WACA on 0-87 after bowling out the visitors for 215.

Cameron Bancroft showed some signs of returning to form with an unbeaten 52, after Corey Ricchiccioli (3-35) and Matt Kelly (3-49) did the damage with the ball.

But most notable was the fact that Green did not bowl, on return from the minor side soreness that ruled him out of Australia’s ODI series against India.

The allrounder has been back bowling at full intensity in the nets this week, and a cautious approach is expected to have him bowling in the next Shield game.

Green took two catches for WA, the first a flying effort at gully to remove the dangerous Ben Manenti. 

His second was just as notable, given he was left holding his right bowling hand in pain after clutching onto a soundly-hit ball from Jake Lehmann (96) at cover.

Green appeared in some pain as he left the field, but team officials confirmed the 26-year-old did not suffer a serious injury.

Cameron Green inspects his hand after taking the catch to dismiss Jake Lehmann // Getty

Ruled out of last summer through back surgery, Green bowled for the first time when he sent down four overs against NSW in the opening round of the Shield.

But he did not bowl in the second innings of that match, as officials did not want him bowling on back-to-back days.

He then pulled up sore with the minor side issue, ruling him out of Australia’s ODIs against India.

Western Australia have one more Shield game before the first Test against England, against Queensland in Perth from November 11.

Tuesday’s developments came as fellow allrounder Beau Webster conceded he expected to be squeezed out of Australia’s Test team if Green is fit to bowl.

Slashing Lehmann plays lone hand, just misses ton

Lehmann provided the only real resistance for South Australia on Tuesday, with his 96 continuing a superb start to the summer for the 33-year old.

The left-hander drove to the cover boundary frequently, and produced the shot of the day late with an audacious scoop off Liam Haskett that went for six.

But no other South Australian passed 25 as the hosts’ bowlers built pressure, before the visitors’ quicks were guilty of being too loose after tea.

Bancroft accelerated out of the blocks to at one stage be 28 off 22 balls, while Sam Whiteman also went to stumps unbeaten, on 30.

Sheffield Shield 2025-26 standings

Team

Matches played

M

Wins

W

Losses

L

Drawn

D

No results

N/R

Deductions

Ded.

Batting Bonus

Bat

Bowling Bonus

Bowl

Total points

PTS

1
Victoria Men
Victoria Men
VIC

2
2
0
0
0
0
1.83
1.6
15.43

2
Queensland Bulls
Queensland Bulls
QLD

2
1
0
1
0
0
3.71
1.8
12.51

3
NSW Men
NSW Men
NSW

2
1
1
0
0
0
0
2
8

4
Tasmanian Tigers Men
Tasmanian Tigers Men
TAS

2
1
0
1
0
2
1.31
1.2
7.51

5
South Australia Men
South Australia Men
SA

2
0
2
0
0
0
1.15
1.9
3.05

6
Western Australia Men
Western Australia Men
WA

2
0
2
0
0
0
0
2
2

Legend

M: Matches played

W: Wins

L: Losses

D: Drawn

N/R: No results

Ded.: Deductions

Bat: Batting Bonus

Bowl: Bowling Bonus

PTS: Total points