 "Australian all-rounder Cameron Green celebrates after dismissing Will Jacks during the third ODI against England at Chester-le-Street. Reuters")
Australia’s Cameron Green chances of featuring in the marquee Test series against India later this year suddenly appeared doubtful after he was ruled out of the ongoing white-ball tour of England with a back-injury.
The 25-year-old all-rounder had reported soreness after the conclusion of the rain-affected third ODI at Chester-le-Street, which England won by 46 runs (DLS Method) to keep their series hopes alive after losing the first two.
Green was ruled out of the remainder of the five-match series ahead of the fourth ODI, which got underway at Lord’s earlier on Friday.
The batting all-rounder, who is returning home to begin his rehabilitation ahead of the Border-Gavaskar Test series beginning in November, now faces a race to be fit for the much-anticipated assignment at home against a side that is leading the World Test Championship (WTC) chart at the moment.
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Scans performed on the cricketer revealed a back injury, and a timeline for his possible return to action will be set after more tests are conducted in Australia.
According to cricket.com.au, an Australia men’s team spokesperson said the extent of the injury and a timeline for his return “wouldn’t be known until the player arrives home in Perth for further assessment”.
The cricketer reported soreness after the match in Chester-le-Street, where he picked 2 for 45 with the ball and scored 45 with the bat.
He was left out of the second ODI at Headingley to manage his workloads after bowling in the previous six matches of their UK tour.
Impact Shorts
More ShortsGreen, who has a history with back injuries, was prohibited from bowling during the 2019-20 summer due to a stress fracture in his lower back.
The first Test against India is nearly two months away, with the match starting on 22 November in Perth.
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Green had made his international debut against India during the first Test of the iconic 2020-21 Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Adelaide.
India crashed to an eight-wicket loss in the Pink-Ball Test after getting bundled out for 36 in their second innings, with skipper Virat Kohli also flying back home after the match due to personal reasons.
The visiting team, however, scripted a comeback for the ages thereafter after Ajinkya Rahane took over captaincy for the remainder of the tour.
India won the second and fourth Tests in Melbourne and Brisbane respectively and collected a hard-fought draw in Sydney to register a famous series victory – their second on the trot Down Under.