Australia fast-bowling allrounder Cameron Green is unlikely to play in the first Test against hosts South Africa starting on October 9 at Kingsmead. The abdominal strain that he picked up during the third ODI against the same opposition last month doesn’t appear to have healed completely. Green didn’t play in the two-day warm-up against Cricket South Africa Invitation XI that ended in a draw on Sunday. He wasn’t seen training either, like players usually do in the lead-up to an international game. Since then, the rumour mill has been abuzz about his unavailability for the first Test.
Green’s injury has done two things. First, the other allrounder in the squad, Beau Webster, will get a game. Webster is a unique player in that he can bowl medium pace as well as off-spin. It may be noted that Green is officially not out yet, but there is a very strong chance he will not play. There is strong evidence. Green recently got a century and a fifty against Bangladesh in a two-Test rubber at home, and his absence at Kingsmead against one the finest Test teams in the world can't be good news for the Aussies.
In case he doesn’t, one of Cooper Connolly and Matthew Renshaw can get a game. Connolly can also bowl spin, and that gives him the edge. Australia also have injury covers Sam Harper and Nic Maddinson to look at, but former Australia tearaway pacer Mitchell Johnson believes either Renshaw or Connolly should play since they have the right of way, having been chosen as main players in the squad, not as injury covers.
{{/usCountry}}In case he doesn’t, one of Cooper Connolly and Matthew Renshaw can get a game. Connolly can also bowl spin, and that gives him the edge. Australia also have injury covers Sam Harper and Nic Maddinson to look at, but former Australia tearaway pacer Mitchell Johnson believes either Renshaw or Connolly should play since they have the right of way, having been chosen as main players in the squad, not as injury covers.
{{/usCountry}}“If Cam Green is unavailable, Matthew Renshaw or Cooper Connolly should remain ahead of Maddinson. They were included in the original squad and should have a clearer position in the selection order,” Johnson wrote in his column for the West Australian.
The Australian team management in recent weeks has sent out strong messages that it is now ready to back Connolly. "(Connolly has been) primarily picked in this squad as a batsman, but that secondary skillset (bowling) may come into consideration depending on what sort of conditions we do face in South Africa. I think he's got a game that's well suited to the middle order, but no doubt, as he matures and continues to grow his game, I think there's a capacity there where he could bat further up the order.
"Yeah, ultimately, I think he will be able to. Whether that's now, whether that's in the future (remains to be seen). (He is) still so young in his career, but I think his ability to bat in a range of positions will continue to grow as he gets more and more experience," Aussie selector and former batsman George Bailey said early last month at the time of the squad announcement.