'Wasn't quite ready to come in to bat...': Cameron Green reacts after smashing record-breaking century against South Africa in 3rd ODI

Australia's top batting order dominated South Africa in the third ODI in Mackay, where all-rounder Cameron Green smashed his maiden ODI century in just 47 balls, the second fastest by an Australian in the fifty-over format after Glenn Maxwell's 40-ball effort against the Netherlands at the 2023 World Cup.

With Cameron Green's ton, Australia became the second team in the history of ODI cricket across 4,897 matches to have all top three batters score centuries in a single innings. The first team to achieve this rare feat was South Africa, against the West Indies in 2015. Green who was promoted to number three revealed that he was not ready to bat at the new position.

"I wasn't quite ready (to come in to bat). A couple of twos at the start got me going. The two openers (Marsh and Head) batted beautifully. It came off well today, doesn't always. So really happy. We haven't played much one-day cricket of late. Got an opportunity today, so it was nice. Hopefully, the two openers keep doing that (scoring heavily) going forward. We couldn't get it right in the previous game; it had nothing to do with batting first or second," said Cameron Green after Australia's first inning.

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After getting promoted to number three, Green strode to the crease after a record opening stand and launched a brutal assault on South Africa's depleted bowling attack. He remained unbeaten on 118 from just 55 deliveries, smashing eight sixes and six fours that helped Australia to a mammoth 431 for 2, which is their second-highest total in ODI history.

434/4 vs South Africa, Johannesburg, 2006
431/2 vs South Africa, Mackay, 2025*
417/6 vs Afghanistan, Perth (WACA), 2015
399/8 vs Netherlands, Delhi, 2023

Their highest-ever ODI score also came against the Proteas, 434 for 4 in Johannesburg in 2006, a match remembered for South Africa's extraordinary successful chase.