The 23-year-old Team Australia all-rounder Cameron Green has been ruled out of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2023 opening Test. The first Test of the four-match series between India and Australia will be played at the Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium, Jamtha, Nagpur from February 9 to 13.
Cameron Green has been struggling with a finger injury for a long period. He sustained a fracture to his right index finger during the second Test against Team South Africa at the Melbourne Cricket Ground last December.
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Green was on light duties during Australia’s first training session at the Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium. The all-rounder didn’t bat, but he did some fitness work and light center-wicket bowling.
Earlier, Andrew McDonald had spoken about the idea of Green playing as a batter in the opening Test. However, it seems team management has taken a cautious approach and Green will be kept out of the XI for the first Test.
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On Tuesday, February 7, vice-captain Steve Smith revealed that Green has not faced fast bowling in the nets. He added that the all-rounder’s hopes of playing the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2023 opener are all but over.
“I don’t think he’s even faced fast-bowling yet, so I dare say he won’t be playing, but who knows,” Smith said on Tuesday.
“I don’t even know what he’s done (at training), I was sort of focusing on my work. We’ll wait and see but it’s unlikely I think.”
In the absence of Green, Matt Renshaw is most likely to play at No.6 for the Pat Cummins’ side in the four-Test series opener.
“I think if Cameron Green was fit it definitely be more of an option” – Steve Smith on Australia playing 3 spinners
Steve Smith has said that the pitch at the Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium is looking pretty dry ahead of the commencement of the first Test. A dry surface means the Aussies will look to field the combination of two spinners and two pacers.
“It’s pretty dry. Particularly one end that I think will take a bit of spin, particularly the left-arm spinner spinning it back into our left-handers. There’s a section there that’s quite dry. Other than that, I can’t really get a good gauge on it,” Smith said.
“I don’t think there will be a heap of bounce in the wicket. I think for the seamers it will be quite skiddy and maybe a bit of up-and-down movement as the game goes on. The cracks felt quite loose. We’ll wait and see when we get out there.”
Australia might have considered fielding three spinners if the pitch does look like it will spin big from ball one. However, in the absence of Green, the management might not be able to do that.
“I think if Green was fit it definitely be more of an option,” Smith said.
“Without him, maybe. I’m not entirely sure. I think we’ve got a strategy meeting this afternoon where we’ll have a talk about what we think but ultimately it’s down to the selectors to pick the team they think is best for the surface,” he added.
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