As the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series between Australia and India looms on the horizon, the Australian cricket team is faced with a potential roadblock in the form of all-rounder Cameron Green. Green’s availability for the series, starting on February 9, 2023, remains uncertain due to ongoing issues with his ball-loading.
According to Australia’s head coach, Andrew McDonald, Green’s biggest challenge is currently with his bowling. The 23-year-old sustained a fracture to his bowling finger during a recent South Africa Test series and is still facing difficulties with his delivery. While Green is recovering well, he is still visiting a surgeon on a regular basis to monitor his progress.
“There is a lack of loading there, and one of the key reasons around us getting into this camp early is to make sure that we’re ready to go for the rigours of what the bowling unit [is] going to encompass,” McDonald stated. “Building confidence is the main thing, setting him up to succeed in that first Test match, having enough time, that will be the critical question.”
Despite the uncertainty surrounding Green’s fitness, McDonald emphasized the all-rounder’s importance to the team, saying that if necessary, the Australian management would not hesitate to play him purely as a batter. “We value his batting first and foremost really, he’s a batter in our top six and we value that, his bowling is a bonus. A very nice bonus,” McDonald explained.
While Green’s absence would undoubtedly be a setback for the Australian team, McDonald indicated that they have several backup options if the situation arises. “We feel we have some good options,” McDonald said, adding that Peter Handscomb could potentially fill in as a right-handed option to balance out the left-handed dominated line-up.
As the Border-Gavaskar Trophy draws closer, the Australian cricket team will be eagerly awaiting updates on Green’s progress. With the series carrying significant stakes for both teams, the Australians will be hoping for a fully fit and firing Cameron Green to help them secure a victory on Indian soil.
