- The all-rounder was due to play an important role in the India Test series
- He was sent home after a recent tour of England due to a problem.
Australian Test selectors have a decision to make after confirmation, superstar all-rounder Cameron Green requires back surgery to treat a “unique defect” in his back and will be sidelined for up to six months.
Green, 25, was sent home from Australia’s white-ball tour of England with a back problem and after a major consultation it was agreed he would undergo surgery.
The operation, which will be performed in New Zealand, will involve using titanium screws and wire to join the vertebrae together, similar to the procedure former Australian fast bowler James Pattinson underwent with great success.
With surgery to stabilize the defect and reduce the risk of future recurrence, Green now faces an expected six-month recovery schedule.
“Australian all-rounder Cameron Green will undergo surgery to treat a stress fracture of the lumbar spine this week,” Cricket Australia confirmed in a statement.
‘The extent of the fracture was revealed in follow-up scans and a thorough assessment after he reported lower back pain during the recent UK tour.
‘While stress fractures of the spine are not unusual in bowlers, Cam has a unique defect in an area adjacent to the fracture which is believed to contribute to the injury.
Cameron Green (pictured with girlfriend Emily Redwood) will miss six months of cricket due to a “single defect” which has left him needing back surgery.
The 25-year-old was sent home from Australia’s white-ball tour of England (pictured) after suffering fractures to his lower spine.
‘After a thorough consultation, it was determined that Cameron would benefit from surgery to stabilize the defect and reduce the risk of future recurrence.
‘The surgery has been performed successfully with elite bowlers in the past.
‘The recovery time is expected to be about six months. “The decision to proceed with surgery was made with Cameron’s long-term future as an all-rounder in mind.”
Green will miss the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series against India, two Tests against Sri Lanka, the Champions Trophy in Pakistan and probably part, if not all, of the Indian Premier League season.
Australia will now have to readjust their batting line-up, and the decision on who comes in will affect Steve Smith’s future as a Test opener.
Green’s long absence is a blow to the Australians, who expect a tough challenge from India in the upcoming five-Test series.
Green produced the best innings of his 28 Test career when he bowled 174 not out against New Zealand in March, taking on the new role after Smith was promoted to opener following the retirement of David Warner.
An Australia A team to be named on Monday for two matches against India will give an idea of possible replacements.
Openers Marcus Harris and Cameron Bancroft, as well as Sheffield Shield teenage star Sam Konstas, will be included, making it more likely that Smith will return to number four and a specialist opener will be chosen for the Test series.
Harris opened the Sheffield Shield season with a century, while Bancroft made a couple of ducks. Konstas became the youngest player since Ricky Ponting to score a double hundred in the same match after scoring the twin tons for New South Wales against South Australia.