New Delhi . Australian allrounder Cameron Green will have to undergo surgery due to a back problem, which means he will no longer be a part of the Test series against India. Green has opted for surgery on a stress fracture in his lower back, with his return expected to take at least six months.
Green has taken this decision after long talks with the medical staff of Cricket Australia (CA) over the last two weeks. CA believes that the return and complete recovery after surgery depends on the player and it may take up to nine months. However, he is confident that Green can make a comeback in six months. Six months away from cricket means Green will no longer be a part of the fivematch Test series against India as well as the crucial Test series against Sri Lanka and the Champions Trophy 2025. Apart from this, he will not be able to play IPL and if the World Test Championship (WTC) reaches Australia in the final, then Green will not be a part of the team there too. CA believes that Green will no longer be a part of the Australian team going on the Caribbean tour in June and July next year, it will be important to see when he will be ready to bowl after his return.
According to information received by ESPNcricinfo, only New Zealand surgeons Graeme Ingles and Rowan Schutten can perform Green's surgery. Both of them have performed successful surgeries on 26 players suffering from similar problems in the last two decades. The surgery of one of them, Kyle Jamieson, was not successful but his disease was very complex. However, New Zealand coach Gary Stead has said that Jamieson is now on the verge of making a comeback and could be seen in the Super Smash starting in December.
Apart from these, Australian fast bowler Ben Dwarschwiss also got his treatment from the same surgeon in 2019. Dwarschwiss started playing domestic cricket within 10 months. Similarly, Jason Behrendorff also underwent back surgery in October 2019 and made a comeback in December 2020. Although he has not played any firstclass match since then, he does not have any problem now.
Another Australian fast bowler, James Pattinson, had to undergo surgery for a similar problem and returned to firstclass cricket after 12 months. While he had to wait another 22 months to play Test cricket, he was troubled by other injuries and eventually retired at the age of 32.
—
– .
Image Credit: KhasKhabar.