NEW DELHI: Legendary former Australia captain Ricky Ponting has advised tall all-rounder Cameron Green to keep things simple and avoid over analysing or constantly tinkering with his game in Test cricket.

Green, who recently became the costliest overseas buy in IPL history after being picked up by Kolkata Knight Riders for Rs 25.20 crore at the mini auction, has endured a tough Ashes series against England.

While Australia have already sealed the Ashes by winning the first three Tests, Green has managed just 76 runs and picked up two wickets so far.

"Apparently, he's a very deep thinker about his own game and likes to tinker with things a lot," former Australia captain Ponting said on the ICC Review.

"But if I had some advice for him, it'd be just keep things as simple as you can, think about what you've done at domestic cricket and take your domestic game to the Test match and back it in for a while," he added.

Numbers raise questions but potential remains

Green, who made his Test debut against India in Adelaide five years ago, has now played 35 Tests. The pace-bowling all-rounder has taken 37 wickets and scored 1,641 runs at an average of around 33.

With the numbers not quite stacking up, Ponting feels it is still difficult to fully assess Green’s impact at international level.

"It's actually quite hard to get a gauge on him yet as an international player. He averages under 30 in Australia now. His career averages just over 30.

"He's made two Test match hundreds in 30-odd Test matches. He's had back surgery, and his bowling pace is probably not quite what it was 12 months ago," opined Ponting.

Despite the concerns, Ponting remains optimistic about Green’s long-term prospects in the Baggy Green.

"But there is a very complete package there if it all comes together. And we've seen him play some pretty remarkable innings.

"He made an incredible 100 in New Zealand last year. He's got 100 in India as well, albeit on a very, very flat pitch."

Green’s maiden Test century came in Ahmedabad, where he scored 114 in difficult circumstances. He followed it up with his best knock in March 2024, hammering an unbeaten 174 in Wellington to guide Australia to a 172-run win.

Finding the right role and the Beau Webster factor

Ponting also stressed how highly Green is regarded within the Australian setup.

"Talking to the players, talking to the coaching staff, they absolutely love what he brings to the group," said Ponting.

"The biggest challenge he has is, he's just got to find out the right way and right style for him to play, work out what's going to work for him, and then commit to that and stick to it for a long period of time."

However, Ponting admitted that Australia’s persistence with Green has come at a cost for another tall all-rounder, Beau Webster.

"But the unfortunate player in this whole Australian summer so far has been Beau Webster. He didn't do much wrong in the games that he played. Certainly, in Australia, in his debut game, he was very good," said Ponting.

"Then had to go to the West Indies, where the wickets were very, very challenging for all batters. And he got undone by a couple of almost unplayable deliveries over there.

"He got injured at the start of the Australian summer and missed a couple of Shield games, which probably didn't help because he didn't get the same sort of run-in and runs under his belt as someone like Labuschagne did. Unfortunately, Beau didn't have that, and as I said, I actually feel a bit for him, and he might be the one that they're thinking about in that No.7 slot as well."

(With PTI Inputs)