Australian star Cameron Green likely set for back surgery that could rule him out for the Test summer

Australia’s plans for the summer have been blown to bits by the news they will likely be without star all-rounder Cameron Green for their five-Test series with India.

Cameron Green is strongly considering undergoing back surgery that would almost certainly rule him out for the summer.

A fortnight after the Australian all-rounder hurt his back bowling in England, Cricket Australia is still yet to publicly confirm a management plan for the West Australian.

However a final decision is believed to be imminent, with Green likely to go under the knife in a bid to ensure a better long-term prognosis.

Green’s probable absence for the entire Border-Gavaskar Trophy Series – and potentially the two Tests away to Sri Lanka at the back end of the summer – leaves twin holes in the Australian XI given his status as a No. 4 batter and fourth pace option.

Australia bowler Cameron Green’s summer could already be over. Picture: Getty

The trickle-down effects of Green being unavailable are many, beginning with a heightened reliance on Mitch Marsh’s seam overs. It also paves the way for Steve Smith to return to No. 4 and for a specialist opener to be selected to partner Usman Khawaja.

The door has also been nudged ajar for all-rounders Aaron Hardie and Beau Webster to press respective claims. The latter notched a century for Tasmania against Victoria on a docile Junction Oval wicket on Thursday, two days after Vics Marcus Harris and Peter Handscomb made centuries of their own.

More to come

Originally published as Australian star Cameron Green likely set for back surgery that could rule him out for the Test summer