Cameron Green – Mystery benefactor funds Gloucestershire deal

Gloucestershire has signed Australian cricketer Cameron Green for five County Championship matches, following a significant donation from a club member. Green aims to recover from a back stress fracture before the Sheffield Shield season ends and will compete from April 18 to May 26, focusing on his role as a specialist batter ahead of the World Test Championship final in June. Despite financial struggles, the club managed to afford Green’s wages through this donation. Coach Mark Alleyne praised Green’s considerable talent, emphasizing the team’s ambitions for 2025. Meanwhile, Hampshire has signed New South Wales allrounder Jack Edwards.

Gloucestershire has enlisted Australia’s Cameron Green for five County Championship matches, thanks to a “substantial donation” from one of the club’s supporters.

According to a report by ESPNcricinfo this month, Green is aiming to return from a back stress fracture by the end of the Sheffield Shield season and is planning to play county cricket. Gloucestershire announced on Friday that he will participate in five matches for them from April 18 to May 26 in the second division of the Championship.

This opportunity will allow Green to compete ahead of the World Test Championship final in June, where Australia will face South Africa at Lord’s. He will be available solely as a specialist batter, not as an allrounder, facing competition for middle-order positions following the promising starts of Josh Inglis and Beau Webster in their Test careers.

Gloucestershire’s finances have been challenging recently, with the club reporting a £1.19 million loss in their latest accounts. However, chair Peter Matthews stated that one of the club’s approximately 2,000 members had contributed a sum that would cover Green’s wages without exceeding their budget for the 2025 season.

“We are thrilled to welcome Cameron to Gloucestershire,” Matthews remarked. “This arrangement would not have been possible without a generous donation from a club member, and we are extremely thankful for his support, which allows us to make this move without surpassing our playing budget.”

Mark Alleyne, the coach of Gloucestershire, commented: “Cameron Green’s talent is undeniable… He typically plays a crucial role for the leading Test team in the world currently, and having someone of his caliber in our squad is fantastic for the players around him. We have significant aspirations in all formats for 2025, and Cameron’s signing will reinforce that commitment.”

In other news, Hampshire has announced the acquisition of another Australian allrounder, Jack Edwards from New South Wales. ESPNcricinfo reported this week that Edwards will effectively take the place of Mohammad Abbas for the initial two months of the Championship season, with Hampshire hoping that Edwards’ capability to bat at No. 7 will help fill the gap left by James Vince’s departure from red-ball cricket.

Leave a Comment