Australia all-rounder Cameron Green is a doubt for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, following a back injury which has ruled him out of Australia's ongoing ODI series in England.
On Australia's tour of the UK, Green played in all three T20Is against Scotland and played two T20Is against England. He played the first and third ODIs in Nottingham and Durham, but missed the second.
Cameron Green ruled out of England ODI series
On Friday (September 27), Cricket Australia (CA) announced that Green had complained of soreness in his back following the third ODI, in which he scored 42 and picked up 2-45. He was subsequently left out of the playing XI for the fourth ODI at Lord's, which had a delayed start due to rain.
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Scans conducted in London revealed an injury, the nature and extent of which is not yet known, but he has been ruled out of the fifth ODI as well. CA's press release stated: "Cameron Green has sustained a back injury and will play no further part in the ODI tour of England.
"Scans in London overnight revealed the injury after Green reported soreness following the third ODI against England in Durham. He will return home for further assessment where his return to play management plan will be determined."
A spokesperson for the Australia team said that timeline for Green's return would not be known until the all-rounder lands in Perth for further assessment. He has now become the fifth Australian player to be injured on their tour of the UK, following Nathan Ellis, Xavier Bartlett, Riley Meredith and Ben Dwarshuis.
Green a doubt for Border-Gavaskar Trophy following back injury
This white-ball tour was Green's first taste of international cricket since February. On Australia's Test tour of New Zealand earlier this year, he struck a career best 174 not out in the first Test in Wellington. He was named in Australia's squad for the T20 World Cup in the Caribbean but did not play in the tournament.
Green now faces a race against time to regain fitness for Australia's marquee Test series later this year – the Border-Gavaskar Trophy at home against India, which begins in November.
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He made his Test debut the last time India toured Australia, scoring 84 in the second innings in Sydney even as the visitors managed to win the series 2-1. Green is a vastly improved player since then, and is likely to be a big part of Australia's red-ball set up long-term.
If he does not make it back in time, it could add to Australia's headache over an opening batter, following the retirement of David Warner. Steve Smith, the regular No.4, has opened of late, partly to allow Australia to fit Green in at second drop. His ability with the ball would also be a sore miss for them in terms of team balance.
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