Australia has faced a major setback in its preparation for the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) 2024-25 series against Team India later this year.
All-rounder Cameron Green is likely to miss the entire summer due to a back injury, with surgery one of the options being considered.
Cricket Australia (CA) is challenged to find veteran opening batsman David Warner’s replacement at the top of the batting order in Test cricket.
Travis Head emerged as an option to open alongside Usman Khawaja. There were earlier discussions about replacing Cameron Green with Steve Smith.
Cricket Australia is yet to make an official statement on Cameron Green’s injury
Cameron Green returned to Australia after suffering back pain after the third ODI against England. The off-roader was subjected to explorations in both England and Australia. However, Cricket Australia’s medical team is yet to release a formal plan on the severity of the back injury.
Cricket Australia’s medical team is carefully assessing the cricketer’s condition before issuing an official statement. Surgery is a legitimate option, but it is just one of several recovery plans being considered by medical and performance teams following his injury during the limited UK tour.
Cameron Green could miss entire summer cricket season
Green will miss the entire summer cricket season if he undergoes surgery. However, there is a chance he could return as a hitter with a non-surgical recovery plan, but the timeline for his availability is unclear.
The 25-year-old has suffered four stress fractures in the past, but has not had any since 2019.
Australia will need to adjust their batting line-up if Green is not available for the India series. Star batsman Steve Smith is likely to return to the No. 4 position in the batting order.
Marnus Labuschagne will bat at No. 3, while Travis Head, Mitchell Marsh and Alex Carey will play at No. 5 and No. 6, respectively.
It weighs heavily on my mind – Marcus Harris
Marcus Harris, Cameron Bancroft and Matt Renshaw are vying for the opening if Smith bats in the middle order against India.
Harris has signed with Victoria on a long-term basis and added that he is playing without the pressure of potential trial selection “on my head like I did last year”.
“It probably weighed on me a lot more in the past than it does now. I’m just playing as it comes to me. I think last year was a good lesson for that. I’m going to keep playing whatever I’m playing and trying to score some runs,” Harris said after his innings.
Harris began the Shield season with 143 runs for Victoria against Tasmania. He scored his 29th first-class century on a flat pitch at the Junction Oval.
Meanwhile, Bancroft and Renshaw recorded low scores in the first innings of their match between Western Australia and Queensland at the WACA ground.
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