Cricket prodigy Cameron Green, having been likened to Ricky Ponting by good judges, is on track to follow in the legend's footsteps when selected in Australia's Test XI.
Ponting celebrated his 21st birthday a week and a half after his Test debut.
Green will be 21 when, provided the allrounder ticks the required boxes under Cricket Australia's concussion policy, he is presented with a baggy green at Adelaide Oval on Thursday.
The West Australian's promotion would likely result in Matthew Wade shuffling up the order to become a makeshift opener, to partner Joe Burns or Marcus Harris.
Green suffered a scary head knock while bowling at the SCG last Friday, when Jasprit Bumrah clobbered a ball back at him.
But coach Justin Langer, speaking prior to Tuesday's training session, was thrilled to report that Green is in good spirits.
"If he's passed fit, he'll definitely play," Langer said.
"Last night he had a big smile on his face.
"He had another test this morning that we got good news on."
Greg Chappell recently described Green, who scored 197 against NSW in the Sheffield Shield hub and then 125 not out against India in a tour game, as the best batting talent he'd seen since Ponting.
Green, who bowls express pace, also attracted comparisons to Andrew Flintoff during recent years.
But the young gun only recently resumed bowling after back stress fractures, meaning Langer isn't expecting any wonders with the ball.
"He might bowl a few overs but he's earned his right purely through weight of runs and that's a great credit to him as a young player," Langer said.
Langer, who admitted Australia's preparation for the series has been "disjointed", said Marnus Labuschagne was not in the mix to open because had had done such a good job at No.3.
But the former Test opener described No.5 batsman Wade as Australia's new "Mr Fix It", who could handle batting anywhere in the order.
"He's tough, mentally tough and physically tough," Langer said.
"He's got good footwork. He's got the game for it (opening the batting).
"He can counter attack like David Warner does and a lot of the great openers do.
"We just have to work out what the best make up of our team is going to be."
Burns is terribly out of form, having managed just 62 runs from nine first-class knocks this season, but Langer isn't judging the Queenslander on that stretch alone.
"I've been privately and publicly backing Joe in the whole time," Langer said.
"He's a very good player. You don't lose your talent overnight.
"He also understands that runs are the greatest currency for any player. He's been a bit light on.
"We'll get eyes on him today, see how he's going ... we'll make a decision on who is going to open in the next day or so."
.png?w=600)
