Australia v India ODIs: Cameron Green set to be overlooked for first match at SCG on Friday

He's the talk of Aussie cricket but there doesn’t seem to be any room for Cameron Green in a settled Australian ODI side for the first match against India on Friday.

Marnus Labuschagne during the Australian cricket teams non quarantining players training session at the SCG ahead of their series against India. Picture. Phil Hillyard

Steve Smith in for the injured Mitch Marsh looms as the lone change to the Australian team to take on India on Friday at the SCG in the international summer opener as coach Justin Langer labelled his squad’s depth a “tactical advantage” over the tourists.

The are currently 27 Aussie players training in two groups in separate quarantine hubs in Sydney and the ODI squad won’t come together until the morning of the clash with the Indians amid a preparation like never before.

Langer said Aussie great Ricky Ponting’s arm has “fallen off” he’s been throwing that many balls to Smith in their training hub, where he’s also been facing fast bowlers Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood every day since their return from the IPL.

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Cameron Green is going to have to cool his heels in the dressingroom for a while.

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Seven of Australia‘s 18-man ODI squad, including batsman Marnus Labuschange and boom all-rounder Cameron Green, trained under the watchful eye of Langer, who has been in Sydney since Sunday, on Tuesday.

Langer said Green “had to be bowling” to be any chance of making his ODI debut on Friday, and the exit of the injured Marsh potentially opened up a spot for the extra all-rounder the coach wants his in team.

But it’s more likely Marcus Stoinis and Glenn Maxwell will share the bowling and Smith, who missed the entire ODI series against England in September with concussion, would be the straight swap.

“We’ll probably lean that way. We’ve talked about in our foundation for one-day cricket going forward, we really like that extra bowling option,” Langer said.

“In England we had Marsh, Maxwell and Stoinis being able to get us at least 10 overs. We like that combination.

Justin Langer says the Aussie ODI team is in a good spot at the moment.

“Stevie will come straight in, but there are some headaches, but they are good headaches. We’ve got great depth … there is lots of competition, that’s exactly how we want it, keep the guys in the first XI on their toes.

“It’s one of our competitive advantages.”

Langer said they were being extra cautious with Green, who returned to bowling in the Sheffield Shield earlier this month after suffering from back issues.

“If we are going pick Cameron Green he has to be bowling, in one-day cricket specifically, not so much in T20 cricket or Test cricket,” Langer said.

“We’re very sensitive to his physical health, he’s had two stress fractures in the past. He‘s up and running, he’s bowling well and gives us another option at the selection table, which is exciting.”

Mitchell Starc has been keeping the Aussie batsmen busy.

While the Aussie are training separately, the entire Indian squad is preparing as one unit for the three-match ODI series that is followed by three T20 internationals in quick succession.

But Langer was happy his players were getting enough competition to be ready for the showdown with a team the Aussie coach considers his biggest rivals.

“If you ask guys like David Warner and Maxy, Steve Smith, they are facing Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood. The guys in the SCG nets, they’re batting against Starcy (Mitchell Starc) and Sean Abbott. They’re getting plenty of competition,” Langer said.

“They’ll know they are in the contest when they walk out on Friday against India. The boys will be ready.”

Originally published as Australia v India ODIs: Cameron Green set to be overlooked for first match at SCG on Friday