Simon Katich came down hard on Cameron Green after the all-rounder’s dismissal on the second day of the Ashes 2025/26 Boxing Day Test.
Cam Green was the seventh Australian wicket to fall in the second innings that lasted less than two sessions. Starting the day at 4-0, nightwatcher Scott Boland was the first to be dismissed after a 22-run opening partnership with Travis Head, which turned out to be the hosts’ second-biggest stand of the innings.
Australia lost wickets at regular intervals, and from 82-3, when Brydon Carse went through Head’s defence, they were reduced to 88-6 as Green joined Steve Smith in the middle. The all-rounder, however, seemed too eager to get on the front foot, which ultimately cost him his wicket and attracted criticism from Katich.
Katich on Green dismissal: 'It's predetermined rubbish'
Breaking down Green’s dismissal, Katich said on 7Cricket:
“Now we talked about it a couple of balls before, about the fact that Cameron Green's pressing forward. He'd done that for a number of balls. It was the same in Brisbane. He got so predictable and he got bowled from backing away from the stumps.
“But on this occasion, Ben Stokes knows he keeps pressing forward. So what does he do? Brings his length back and Cameron Green's in no position to play that ball, on the move, not balanced with his foot, particularly his back foot. And it's just premeditated batting. The game's hard enough batting from the crease, let alone when you've got guys charging down the wicket, facing Mitchell Stark yesterday with Harry Brook charging, Will Jacks charging first ball and then Cameron Green.
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“I know what they're trying to do. They're trying to put the bowler off that good length, but you're making a decision before you even know what length the ball's been bowled. So it's predetermined rubbish. Watch the ball and play it instinctively off the track.”
Green’s 31-run stand with Smith was taking Australia towards a sizeable target on a very bowling-friendly MCG pitch that has come under the scanner. But his dismissal exposed the tail, and the hosts could add just 13 more runs to be bowled out for 132 and hand England 175 to win. Steve Smith remained unbeaten on 24.
All four of England’s pacers came to the party, with Gus Atkinson picking up one, Carse taking four, Tongue adding to his first-innings five-for with two more and Ben Stokes picking up three. Only three Australian batters got into double digits – Head, Smith and Green – as the hosts were bowled out in the second session, giving England 12 overs to bat before tea and cut down on the target.
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