Australia have suffered another major injury setback ahead of the Ashes, with allrounder Cameron Green ruled out of the ODI series against India due to low-grade side soreness.
The 26-year-old’s absence is a significant concern for the Australian camp, given his importance as a pace-bowling allrounder. Cricket Australia confirmed on Friday that Green will miss the series, with Marnus Labuschagne called into the squad as his replacement. Labuschagne will join the team in Perth after completing his Sheffield Shield match for Queensland on Saturday night.
Green had only recently returned to bowling after back surgery last year. He missed the T20I tour of New Zealand to play for Western Australia in the opening Shield round against New South Wales last week, where he bowled four overs and took a wicket. However, Cricket Australia’s medical staff did not allow him to bowl on consecutive days as part of his recovery plan.
Although Green was unlikely to bowl in the first two ODIs against India, he was gradually increasing his bowling workload to prepare for the Ashes starting in November. He was also set to skip the third ODI in Sydney and the T20I series that follows, in order to focus on domestic cricket with Western Australia.
Reports suggest Green experienced discomfort while bowling at training this week and will now undergo a short rehabilitation program. The aim is to have him fit in time for Western Australia’s next Shield match against South Australia at the WACA in 11 days.
His injury comes at a time when Australia are already managing other fitness concerns. Test captain Pat Cummins earlier admitted he was “less likely than likely” to feature in the first Ashes Test against England, while allrounder Beau Webster is recovering from an ankle injury but is expected to return for Tasmania’s next Shield match on October 28.
Australia’s vice-captain Travis Head said Green’s absence was precautionary, adding that the allrounder remains in good hands. “I’m sure he’s going alright,” Head said. “It’s disappointing he’s not here for the next three games, but I don’t think it’s too serious. It’s probably more precautionary leading into the next five weeks.”
Green’s injury leaves Australia’s ODI squad without several first-choice players. Pat Cummins is unavailable for the entire series, while wicketkeeper Josh Inglis will miss at least the first two matches due to a calf strain. Spinner Adam Zampa will skip the first ODI in Perth to remain with his pregnant wife, and Alex Carey has opted to play in the Shield match between South Australia and Queensland as part of his Ashes preparation.
Labuschagne, who was dropped from the ODI squad earlier this year after a lean run of form, has earned his recall following a dominant domestic campaign. The right-hander has scored four centuries in his last five innings, including knocks of 159 for Queensland in the Sheffield Shield and 130 and 105 in the One-Day Cup.
Australia will now rely on Labuschagne to strengthen the middle order in Green’s absence, as they prepare to face India in the first ODI on Sunday in Perth.