Australian Test captain Pat Cummins has provided an update on all-rounder Cameron Green fitness ahead of the first Test against India on February 9. Green broke his finger during the home series against South Africa and is unlikely to bowl even if he is named to the squad for the series opener in Nagpur.
The Australians arrived in India a week before the tour began for a four-day training camp in Alur. While the visitors plan to face a potential Indian spin trio, they will also have to reconsider their team lineup, which is largely dependent on Green’s availability.
Since making his debut in the 2020-21 Border-Gavaskar Trophy, the all-rounder has been crucial to Australia’s Test fortunes. The youngster has consistently demonstrated his talent, and his exploits have earned him a lucrative Indian Premier League (IPL) contract with the Mumbai Indians (MI) worth Rs. 17.50 crore.
Cummins told Fox Sports that the team will have to decide whether to include Green in the Nagpur Test.
“I know he won’t be bowling (in the first Test). The next week’s obviously really important. He hasn’t been able to do a lot yet. I think the nature of that particular injury is once it comes good, it comes good really quickly. Hopefully we’re at that stage where the next week, it really does improve a lot.”
Green not only serves as the team’s third seamer in subcontinent conditions, but he also provides batting depth. He has proven to be an excellent spin bowler after scoring two fifties during Australia’s 2022 tour of Sri Lanka and Pakistan.
The possibility of Cameron Green’s exclusion leaves Australia with numerous options for curating its entire bowling framework. Australia has four spinners in their lineup: Nathan Lyon, Ashton Agar, Mitchell Swepson, and Todd Murphy.
Pat Cummins stated that despite the pitches not being tailored to fast bowlers, he has faith in them:
“I doubt that’s kind of an option for the first Test, but we’ll wait and see with the conditions. Again, you look at our team, players like Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, Scott Boland, they’re top class bowlers, so even though it might be spinning conditions, it’s hard to bet against those guys not doing a fantastic job.”
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