The all-round player Cameron Green is debating whether to undergo the kind of extreme back surgery that has saved the careers of multiple Australian fast bowlers, which has cast doubt on his participation in the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series.
In the upcoming days, Green is anticipated to decide whether to have a spine operation like the one that speedster Ben Dwarshuis, Jason Behrendorff, and James Pattinson had all done.
Green would be sidelined for several months following the procedure, which was carried out by innovative Christchurch surgeons Rowan Schouten and Grahame Inglis. It involves titanium wire and screws to tie vertebrae together.
For the forthcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy series against India and the subsequent trip to Sri Lanka, Australia would be without their star all-rounder.
Rehabilitating the injury—which was identified as a stress fracture in his lower back—during Australia’s recent limited-overs tour of the UK would be the better option. Only a few months before the trip, scans had proved straightforward.
After several days of consultations and analysis, Green met with Australian team officials late yesterday to discuss his choices. It is now reported that the 25-year-old is currently considering his alternatives, which include surgery or rehabilitation.
The fact that his bowling is not the only factor in his selection for Test matches adds to the complexity. If Green decided against having surgery, he could play as a batter against India again at some point during the five-Test series.
In the opening Test match against New Zealand in March, the right-hander demonstrated his status as a pure hitter by scoring a career-high 174 runs without conceding a wicket. The consequences of Green’s choice will be far-reaching.
Since selectors were already debating whether to retain him in the opening post he occupied last summer, his absence from the No. 4 berth may allow Steve Smith to return to that position.
If a replacement opener is needed, players like Marcus Harris, Cameron Bancroft, Matthew Renshaw, Nic Maddinson, or even Sam Konstas, the teenage breakout star from the Sheffield Shield, might be considered.
Another thing to consider is if current No. 6 Mitch Marsh can carry Green’s weight regarding the ball. While leading Australia’s white-ball teams over the winter, the Western Australian has yet to take the ball in the current match against Queensland and has bowled very little.
Green now has additional long-term considerations to think about. Since advancing to international cricket in 2020, the Perth product has had a comparatively injury-free run, which has made him an all-format player and a success story for Cricket Australia’s medical staff.
Although Green experienced several back stress fractures as a teenager, his chronic renal condition—which requires him to watch his food regularly and can cause cramping—has been a more significant concern for him in the years afterwards.
Before his most recent injury, he said to cricket.com.au in August that he would only consider becoming a specialist batter far into the future.
When asked if he would contemplate giving up – or at least consider deprioritizing – a bowling career that has so far brought him 35 Test wickets at 35.31, Although it’s possible in the future, I’m content being a true all-around player.
