Australia’s emerging all-rounder Cameron Green was ruled out of the on-going ODI tour of England due to a back injury. Durhan, while conceding a disappointing loss by 46 runs, Green reported back soreness not available for the fourth ODI. And, the scans in London confirmed the injury.

The 25-year-old fared well in the third ODI against Australia. He took 2 wickets for 45 runs and scored 42 runs when Australia suffered its first ODI defeat in 15 matches. The match came before being rested for the second ODI. Cameron Green really took the limelight during the excellent T20 series against Scotland.

The extent of the damage or the timeline for recovery are still unknown as Green departs from here to Perth for further assessments. Australia is likely to take it slow with the process of recovery. Green earlier back stress fractures at the initial stages. 

Future Implications on the Test Team

Even though Test summer against India is eight weeks away, Green’s absence may cause a reshuffle in the batting order. He might get a place as specialist batsman, but any length of recovery will mean a more hectic competition for the number three spot in the Border-Gavaskar Test series opener against India on November 22.

And while David Warner is out of action, that also creates an opening for Steve Smith. That could then allow Green to bat at No. 4, but if anything, Khawaja believed that Smith would be well placed at No. 3, while opening could be the slot for Travis Head.

As things stand, Green’s assessment leaving his damage more severe means Smith falls back to his second string and Head remains at No. 5; this would also free up other specialist openers like Cameron Bancroft, Marcus Harris, and Matthew Renshaw.

Green was the fifth Australian cricketer to be ruled out of the UK tour due to injury. Besides, Green, Nathan Ellis, Xavier Bartlett, Riley Meredith, and Ben Dwarshuis are ruled out. 

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“Cameron Green has been ruled out of the ODI tour of England due to a back injury, raising concerns about his fitness ahead of the Border-Gavaskar Test series.”