Cameron Green unlikely to be named for second Test as absence leads to big selection headache
Australian star Cam Green is still no certainty to return to the side for the second Test despite bowling at full pace during a training session this week.
After being throttled by an innings and 132 runs in the series opener last week, Australia is expected to make a host of changes before facing India in Delhi beginning Friday.
Green has not played since breaking his finger against South Africa on Boxing Day and his return to the side has been delayed after that same finger was hit during a training session in the lead-up to the Border-Gavaskar series.
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The balance brought to the Australian line-up by the 23-year-old all-rounder, who operates as the extra seamer and bats at No.6, was sorely missed in Nagpur.
While Green has been able to bowl unencumbered in the nets, leading cricket pundit Adam Collins is expecting Australia to take a conservative approach with the youngster.
Cameron Green is progressing well from his finger injury, but is expected to miss the second Test Robert Cianflone via Getty Images
"Word on the street is he's not quite ready to go as yet, recovering from a much more elaborate finger injury from when he had it broken in Melbourne, a number of pins (were inserted) in the finger," Collins told SEN WA.
"He reinjured it a little bit in Bangalore at training camp last week, so they might be conservative around Cameron Green."
Australia is, however, set to welcome Mitchell Starc back into the line-up, with the left-arm quick fully recovered from his own finger injury.
Scott Boland is likely to make way for Starc despite outperforming captain Pat Cummins in the opening Test. Josh Hazlewood is still recovering from a hamstring injury.
Green's availability also has flow-on effects to the composition of Australia's bowling attack due to his ability to be an extra seamer.
Travis Head is all but certain to return to Australia's line-up after being dropped for the series opener Getty
With another spin-friendly deck expected in Delhi, Australia could have fielded three spinners in Nathan Lyon, Todd Murphy and Matthew Kuhnemann if Green was available to be the second seamer alongside Cummins.
However, his absence means Australia is likely to beef up the No.6 spot with a batter, while Starc acts as the second seam option alongside Cummins and the two spinners.
Elsewhere in the line-up, Travis Head is all but certain to return to the side in place of Matt Renshaw after being left out in stunning fashion for the series opener.
With India having won the previous series, an Australian loss in the second Test would mean the home side retains the Border-Gavaskar trophy, rendering the final two Tests of the series as dead rubbers.
The second Test will get underway at Delhi's Arun Jaitley Stadium from 3pm AEDT on Friday.
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