Cricket

Australia's Test and ODI captain, Pat Cummins, has expressed his empathy for teammate Cameron Green, who is currently sidelined with back stress fractures. Green has opted for surgery to stabilize his condition, unlike Cummins, who chose not to undergo surgery for a similar issue.Cummins acknowledged the challenges faced by the 25-year-old all-rounder, who aspires to excel in both batting and bowling. "Really sympathetic," Cummins told The Sydney Morning Herald. "We want him bowling, Cam wants to be bowling, and he has a long career ahead of him. So it's about trying to place Cam the cricketer in the best position he can be to have the career that he's hoping for. He's young, so I'm sure he'll be right in the long run."Cummins highlighted the inherent risks of fast bowling, acknowledging the injuries that often accompany the pursuit of speed. "Bowling and trying to bowl fast is unfortunately fraught with injuries. In some ways, the hardest thing is missing cricket and seeing games go by that you could have been part of, but also it can be a pretty lonely way back," Cummins noted.Reflecting on the rehabilitation process, Cummins said, "You don't just set the clock and suddenly, you're back. There is a bit of work to get back, rehabbing and building up as well. It's always a challenge."Understanding Green's predicament, Cummins added, "It looks like Greeny is going to have that situation, which is not uncommon for him unfortunately, so he knows what needs to be done, but that doesn't make it any easier."Cummins' words underscore the support within the Australian team for Green as he navigates this challenging period in his career, aiming to return stronger and continue contributing as a key player for the team.

Cameron Green's participation in the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy against India is in jeopardy due to a persistent back injury. The Australian allrounder has been experiencing back soreness since the third ODI against England in the UK, and scans have revealed a potential stress fracture.Cricket Australia's medical and high-performance team is currently evaluating Green's condition and considering various recovery options, including surgery. If surgery is deemed necessary, it would rule Green out of the entire summer, including the four-Test series against India.However, if a non-surgical recovery plan is adopted, there is a possibility that Green could still play as a batter only later in the summer. The timeframe for his potential return is yet to be determined.Green's absence from the series would have a significant impact on Australia's batting order. It could pave the way for Steven Smith to move back to his preferred position at No. 4, opening up a spot for an opener to be selected from Shield cricket.Marcus Harris, Cameron Bancroft, and Matt Renshaw are all in contention for the opening slot. Harris has made a strong start to the Shield season with a century for Victoria, while Bancroft and Renshaw have had less impressive performances in the first innings of their respective matches.The decision on Green's availability and the batting order for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy is expected to be made in the coming days. If Green is ruled out, it would be a major blow to Australia's hopes of retaining the trophy against India.

Cameron Green's availability for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy against India has been a subject of speculation, with the all-rounder expected to be available as a batter from the start of the series. However, his bowling status remains uncertain, with the possibility of him returning to the crease by the end of the five-Test showdown.Cricket Australia is set to provide an official update on Green's back injury later this week. According to reports, plans are underway to accommodate Green's limited bowling capacity during the Test summer. While he is ruled out of the opening Sheffield Shield round and unlikely to feature in the second, there is a chance he could play as a batter for Australia A against India A in early November.Despite his potential bowling limitations, the 25-year-old Green is considered a crucial member of Australia's top-six, especially after David Warner's retirement last summer. Steve Smith's move to opener was partly made to facilitate Green's inclusion.With five Tests scheduled within a short span of six weeks from late November, Mitchell Marsh may be required to step up as the primary bowler. Off-spinner Nathan Lyon is also expected to shoulder a heavy workload, particularly in Perth, Adelaide, and Brisbane, where the first three Tests will be played.Former Australian team doctor Peter Brukner believes that Green's back stress injury should not prevent him from batting or fielding once the initial pain subsides and the bone begins to heal. Green experienced discomfort after the third ODI against England and returned to Perth for scans."As soon as there's any hint of back pain, they whip them off for an MRI to see if there's any bone edema, which is the first sign there's some stress there," Brukner said. "That shows up fairly early in the process, so if you pick that up, it's an opportunity to back them off rather than pushing through it until it gets to a fracture."Green's Test debut in 2020 saw him restricted to bowling loads of about four overs per innings, and he may face a similar workload by the end of the India Tests. Melbourne and Sydney have traditionally been venues where Australia's selectors seek additional bowling options due to the slower pitches and the matches typically falling at the end of long series."The issue is the load, and as the bone recovers, you gradually increase the load through the bone," Brukner explained. "The load comes mainly from bowling – batting and fielding don't put a huge load on that part of the body, so it's feasible that once the pain settles down, you can bat and field without too many problems and feel fine."In Green's absence, Scott Boland and Michael Neser are likely to be considered as reserve options. Neser made an impressive start to the season for Queensland, dismissing Cameron Bancroft and Jayden Goodwin with the first two balls of the match and finding an edge from Marsh.

Cameron Green's back injury has cast a shadow over Australia's ODI series against England and raised concerns about his availability for the upcoming home summer. The allrounder was ruled out of the final two ODIs after scans revealed soreness following the third match in Durham.Green's injury history includes stress fractures of the back, which he suffered in 2019 and during his time in the domestic system. While the extent of his current injury is yet to be determined, a prolonged absence would have significant implications for Australia's plans.Green's absence would create a vacancy in the middle order, potentially allowing Steven Smith to return to his preferred No. 4 position. It could also open the door for a specialist opener to partner Usman Khawaja.Head coach Andrew McDonald had previously indicated that the incumbent top six would start the Test series against India, but Green's injury could force a rethink. Cameron Bancroft, Matt Renshaw, and Marcus Harris are among the candidates who could be considered for a recall.Green's bowling would also be missed. Pat Cummins had anticipated that Green and Mitchell Marsh would share the workload with Australia's frontline attack during the Tests. If Green is unable to bowl, Marsh's role would become even more crucial.Ricky Ponting expressed concern about Green's injury, noting his history of back problems. However, he suggested that Green could still play as a specialist batter if his bowling is affected.Green was expected to feature in at least one Sheffield Shield match in October before the start of Australia's home international season. Pakistan will visit for T20Is and ODIs ahead of the Tests against India, which begin on November 22 in Perth.

Rashid Khan, Afghanistan's star leg-spinner, has been ruled out of the upcoming one-off Test against New Zealand due to a back injury. The injury occurred while Khan was playing for Speen Ghar Tigers in the Shpageeza Cricket League (SCL), Afghanistan's domestic T20 tournament.Khan played three consecutive matches in the SCL from August 18, taking six wickets at an impressive average of 9.33 and an economy rate of 5.09. However, during his third game, he experienced pain in his back and was forced to miss SGT's next match two days later.This is not the first time Khan has suffered a back injury. He underwent surgery after the World Cup in India last year, which sidelined him for four months. He also suffered a hamstring strain while representing Trent Rockets at the Hundred a week before his recent back trouble.Afghanistan have begun training in Noida for the Test against New Zealand, which will be the first time the two teams have faced each other in the format. The match will also be the first Test to be played at the Greater Noida Sports Complex Ground.After the Test against New Zealand, Afghanistan will fly to Sharjah to play a three-match ODI series against South Africa from September 18.

India's star batter Shreyas Iyer has revealed that he had raised concerns about persistent back issues after the 2023 ODI World Cup, but his concerns were initially dismissed."I was definitely struggling after the World Cup in the longer format," said Iyer, who captains the Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in the Indian Premier League (IPL). "When I raised my concern, no one was agreeing to it."Despite his concerns, Iyer remained determined to perform at his best in the IPL. "When the IPL was approaching, all I wanted to see was that I've put my best foot forward," he said. "We [KKR] had done a lot of planning and strategizing, and if we could execute it to the best of our abilities, we would have been in a great spot."Iyer's back injury had previously sidelined him from the Asia Cup in 2023 and the first two England Tests in early 2024. He was cleared for selection after the second England Test but missed subsequent Ranji Trophy games for Mumbai, citing back spasms.Despite being cleared by the BCCI medical staff, Iyer's absence from the Ranji Trophy raised questions about his priorities. BCCI secretary Jay Shah had warned players against prioritizing the IPL over domestic cricket, and Iyer lost his central BCCI contract despite meeting the minimum criteria for matches played.During the Ranji Trophy final against Vidarbha, Iyer was absent from the field for two consecutive days due to back issues.Iyer acknowledged the challenges of transitioning from red-ball to white-ball cricket. "It's kind of difficult as a batsman and also as a bowler," he said. "But once you get used to it, I think you pick up the pace and march on with the other players."

Shreyas Iyer's Back Injury Flares Up, Threatening IPL ParticipationMumbai batsman Shreyas Iyer's worst fears have materialized as his back injury has resurfaced during the Ranji Trophy final. The recurring injury, which required surgery last year, now casts doubt on his participation in the initial stage of IPL 2024, where he captains the Kolkata Knight Riders.During his 95-run knock in the second innings at the Wankhede Stadium, Iyer experienced back spasms and sought treatment from the Mumbai physio twice. On Day Four of the final, he was unable to take the field due to the pain.Sources close to the situation have revealed that Iyer underwent a scan of his back at a hospital. The results indicate that the same back injury has aggravated, making it unlikely that he will play on Day 5 of the Ranji Trophy final."It's not looking good. It's the same back injury which has got aggravated. It's unlikely that he will take the field on Day 5 of the Ranji Trophy final. He is in danger of missing the initial matches of the IPL," a source told TOI.Iyer had previously missed two Ranji Trophy matches this season due to back pain. During the recent Test series against England, he informed the Indian team management about the recurring injury. However, after being cleared by the National Cricket Academy's medical team, the BCCI denied him a central contract due to his absence from Ranji Trophy matches.The IPL is set to commence on March 22, with KKR playing their first match against Sunrisers Hyderabad in Kolkata on March 23. Iyer's injury is a major concern for KKR, who will be without their captain for the crucial initial matches of the tournament.