Australia coach Andrew McDonald gave crucial updates on the fitness of all-rounder Cameron Green and fast bowler Mitchell Starc ahead of the all-important four-Test Border Gavaskar Trophy Series against India which begins February 9 in Nagpur.
Both players sustained injuries to their appendages during the South Africa Test series at home and have been out of action since. Green had broken a finger in Melbourne Test against the Proteas and did score a fifty with the injury. But as he works towards getting fit for the upcoming Test series, there are question marks about his bowling.
Green has been training with the team in Sydney ahead of the India tour and will be hoping to hear good news from the surgeon for his broken finger.
"Where he's positioned at the moment, his biggest challenge is bowling. There is a lack of loading there, and one of the key reasons around us getting into this camp early is to make sure that we're ready to go for the rigors of what the bowling unit [is] going to encompass. Building confidence is the main thing, setting him up to succeed in that first Test match, having enough time, that will be the critical question," Australia head coach Andrew McDonald said as quoted by ESPN.
Green would be regarded as a specialist batter, though, if his bowling does not quite measure up. McDonald however, ruled out using three specialized spinners despite Green's inability to bowl. The selectors will have to choose whether to stick with a two-quick, two-spinner balance or to support their usual strength in pace with an additional quick if he is unable to bowl (or play).
On the other hand, pacer Mitchell Starc has already been ruled out of the first Test in Nagpur and is expected to be ready for the second Test in Delhi on February 17.
Starc had hurt a finger on his bowling hand, also in Melbourne Test, and while has returned to bowling in nets, he has been doing so wearing some protection to the finger, something that will not be allowed during a match.
"The guard needs to stay on. Really protecting against the knock that would then re-injure that ligament. That's why it's a clear-cut deadline to mitigate against any of that risk. We can't accelerate that, to be honest. It's probably frustrating for Mitch that he feels that good. But the good thing is when he does get out of the splint all his workloads are going to be up to speed and it will be pretty much into that second Test, which is good news to us," McDonald said.
India is the current holder of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy after defeating Australia in two consecutive Test series in their home and also in India in 2017.
(ANI inputs)
