Australian all-rounder Cameron Green could miss entire summer according to grim new report
Updated . First published
Test star Cameron Green may miss the entire Australian summer if a grim report on his back injury comes to fruition.
The Age says Green is in "severe doubt" to play the first Test against India starting November 22 in Perth.
But the same report claims Green may need back surgery, which would sideline him for several months and likely end his chances of playing cricket this summer at all.
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With the Aussies desperately figuring out who can replace the retired David Warner at the top of the batting order, they may now also need to find a new middle-order fast bowling all-rounder.
Green, 25, has played 28 Tests for Australia and averages a little over 36 runs per knock, while also providing a handy bowling option to complement the quicks and Nathan Lyon.
According to The Age, he isn't expected to bowl in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series this summer due to the injury.
Cameron Green is reportedly dealing with a back injury. Getty
Cricket Australia are expected to address the problem this week after Green felt discomfort in his back and travelled home from the tour of England following scans.
Green was deemed unavailable for the start of the Sheffield Shield season, which kicked off on Tuesday, and isn't expected to feature for Western Australia in round two either.
"As soon as there's any hint of back pain at all, they whip them off for an MRI and see whether there's any bone edema, which is the first sign there's some stress there," former team doctor Peter Brukner told The Age.
"That shows up fairly early in the process, so if you pick that up it's an opportunity to back them off, rather than pushing through it until it gets to a fracture."
With his likely absence from the bowling attack, Mitchell Marsh has started upping his workload and will become more of a focal point this summer.
Mitchell Marsh's bowling may become a key factor for Australia. Getty
The squad will be announced in the coming weeks, with plenty of debate over who will partner Usman Khawaja at the top of the Australian order
Marcus Harris staked his claim with a brilliant century for Victoria, while fellow hopeful Cameron Bancroft was dismissed for a golden duck.
Matt Renshaw will open with Khawaja in Queensland's clash with WA and is also in the mix to earn selection for the first Test.
