- Australian star could miss entire summer of cricket
- Selectors could be forced to deploy another bowler
- Australia will face Pakistan and India this summer
Nathan Lyon is set to bowl extra during the Test summer as all-rounder Cameron Green faces the prospect of missing the entire India series due to back surgery.
This newspaper understands that Cricket Australia is leaning towards booking Green for season-ending surgery on his stress fracture, but has yet to make final consultations to determine the 25-year-old’s fate once and for all.
Green’s absence for at least part of the summer leaves a workload dilemma for a five-match series against India that is shaping up to be Australia’s toughest home Test since Pat Cummins became captain.
While Green’s injury could pave the way for Steve Smith to return to No. 4 and a specialist opener to join the top of the order, the biggest concern appears to lie with the bowling load.
At 32, Australia’s second all-rounder Mitch Marsh has been used sparingly for his medium pace since making his fairytale return to the Test setup last year, deployed for a total of just 38 overs in his last seven Test matches.
Cameron Green faces the likely prospect of missing the entire India series due to back surgery.
Nathan Lyon set to bowl extra during Australian Test summer
The workload of the big three pacers – Cummins, Mitch Starc and Josh Hazlewood – is also likely to be a delicate balancing act this summer as the trio prepare to appear in all five Tests.
That leaves Lyon as the leading candidate to take over, with the legendary player stating that his aim was to bowl as much as possible against India.
“I’m getting ready to do it,” he said.
‘I want to bowl a lot of overs. That’s what I love doing in Test cricket. I will do what I have to do for the team. Pat knows it, everyone knows it.
Part-time spinners Travis Head and Marnus Labuschagne could also take on some of Green’s workload after their impressive spells during the white-ball tour of the UK.
Head’s spin conceded 4-28 in the fifth ODI against England to help seal a series win for the tourists, while Labuschagne took 3-39 in the opening match. Both were the best figures of his ODI career.
“Trav played pretty well the other day in the one-day game and so did Marnus, so I think we have enough chances,” Lyon said.
Cricket Australia inclined to reserve Green for season-ending surgery on stress fracture
This leaves Lyon as the leading candidate to take over, with the legendary player declaring that his aim is to bowl as much as possible against India.
‘Obviously you (also) have the three best bowlers in the world in my eyes. I think there’s enough to cover the summer. It’s going to be an incredible summer.”
Lyon picked up five fers in the first of what he hopes will be three Sheffield Shield games for NSW before the summer of testing.
He went through the queue to confirm figures of 5-47 as New South Wales restricted South Australia to 260.
The 36-year-old said he was hungry for what is likely to be his final home Test series against India.
“I’ve been looking forward to playing again. It’s what I love to do. I feel like I’ve been training the whole house, in a very good mental space,” he said.
“Obviously we have a huge summer ahead of us.”
