Green Ruled Out of India Test Series, Set to Undergo Back Surgery

The 25-year-old seam-bowling all-rounder was discovered to have developed a lower back stress fracture while experiencing pain during last month's UK tour. Green had suffered four previous back stress fractures but has not had an issue with that area of his spine since 2019.

Australia's all-rounder Cameron Green, who has a stress fracture in the lower spine, needs surgical intervention. He is ruled out for six months and will not be available for the Border Gavaskar Trophy against India.

The 25-year-old seam-bowling all-rounder was discovered to have developed a lower back stress fracture while experiencing pain during last month's UK tour. Green had suffered four previous back stress fractures but has not had an issue with that area of his spine since 2019.

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While it is not uncommon for fast bowlers to experience stress fractures, Cricket Australia said Green has a "unique defect".

"While spine stress fractures are not unusual in pace bowlers, Cam has an unusual defect in an adjacent area to the fracture that is contributing to the injury as well," said a CA statement on Monday.

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After discussions and tests for a week, Green chose the same surgery as a few of his pacers-including Jasprit Bumrah, James Pattinson, Jason Behrendorff, and Ben Dwarshuis.

"After thorough consultation it was determined Cameron would benefit from the surgery to stabilise the defect and reduce the risk of future recurrence," CA said.

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The alternative to surgery would have involved rehabilitation and restricting his bowling during the five-match series against India, starting November 22 in Perth.

"The surgery has been performed successfully with elite pace bowlers in the past. Recovery time is anticipated to be around six-months.".

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"The operation is in the best interest of Cameron's long-term future as an all-rounder," it stated.

Schouten and Inglis of New Zealand, who fix vertebrae using screws and titanium wire, 'cricket.com.au' said.

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However, a six-month recovery time will mean Green misses the Border Gavaskar Trophy, February's Test tour of Sri Lanka and the Champions Trophy tournament, and his participation in the IPL is also in doubt.
His absence would mean Australia have to rejig their batting order.

Green has come back into the Test side in place of the retiring veteran opener David Warner earlier this year, and Steve Smith has been pushed to the top order to open, where he can only struggle. Hence, he could well have to drop back to his preferred number-four spot, vacated by Green. If so, then the Aussie selectors would have a new opener to pick.

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Furthermore, Australia will also require ascertaining who would bowl Green's overs. Mitchell Marsh did not bowl in the Sheffield Shield match of Western Australia against Queensland and hardly rolled his arm over the winter while captaining the white-ball teams.

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