Cameron Green’s surprise absence from Ashes training sets rumour mill running

A big name was missing from Australia’s last training session before the Third Test, potentially opening the door for a shock inclusion.

Do the Aussies selectors have a shock inclusion in mind? (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)

Amid the endless discussion of the Jonny Bairstow stumping we’ve learned there’s been one lasting impact of the Second Test – some sore bodies.

England captain Ben Stokes has admitted the hosts’ dramatically recast XI for the Third Test starting tonight (AEST) was largely down to his fears he won’t be able to bowl.

Stokes sent down 12 consecutive overs of bouncers in Australia’s second innings at Lord’s as both teams turned to short-pitched approaches – with success.

But there’s been a pay-off. The physical toll has resulted in England swapping out pacemen Jimmy Anderson and Josh Tongue for fresh duo Chris Woakes and Mark Wood – while also replacing injured batsman Ollie Pope with spinner Moeen Ali.

“I’m not going to lie, last week sort of took it out of me a little bit,” Stokes told reporters on Wednesday.

“So a big part of something that I had to think of was what would be the best team if I wasn’t to bowl a ball this game, in the worst-case scenario.

“It doesn’t mean I’m not going to bowl but that was a huge part of the thinking about the team that we picked.”

There hasn’t been blanket approval of the changes. Kevin Pietersen isn’t a fan of moving Harry Brook from No. 5 up to first drop and wants to bring in Ben Foakes to keep wicket after Bairstow’s struggles with the gloves.

Pope out means - Root to 3, Bairstow to 5 & Foakes to keep wicket, IMO. #Ashes

— Kevin Pietersen🦏 (@KP24) July 5, 2023

Australia is yet to name its final XI but the drip feed of information from Leeds suggest it too will make several changes.

The Aussies have confirmed spinner Todd Murphy will replace the injured Nathan Lyon and Pat Cummins said Josh Hazlewood’s availability will be discussed.

Hazlewood played just 11 of Australia’s previous 28 Tests before this tour while battling Achilles and side injuries.

He’s the only bowler outside of Cummins to play both of the first two Tests after missing the World Test Championship final to be ready for the Ashes.

“He would be the obvious one you’d be a bit more careful of,” Cummins said.

“The tour so far for him has gone as well as he could have hoped – no injuries, but he is kind of in uncharted territory for the last year or two. There will be some conversation around that.

Josh Hazlewood could be the one to make way. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)

“He bowled (about) 25 and 35 (overs in the first two matches) which isn’t extreme numbers, but again you weigh up this game versus the last two … you don’t want to put anyone in higher risk than you’d like knowing that there’s a couple of fresh guys on the bench that can come straight in.”

Scott Boland would appear the obvious option to come back in after playing at Edgbaston, although Michael Neser remains in the mix.

But there could be one more twist after Cameron Green was a surprise absence from training on the eve of the Test.

Maybe something. Maybe nothing. But Cameron Green didn’t train on the eve of the Test, which is quite rare for him & there was a lot of attention on Mitchell Marsh during training, handshakes & a one-on-one session with Michael Di Venuto & catches at gully/slip cordon #Ashespic.twitter.com/AFJaaDhk0w

— Bharat Sundaresan (@beastieboy07) July 5, 2023

Green dramatically upped his workload in the Second Test, bowling 22 overs after being required for just eight in Birmingham.

The vast majority of those were bouncers, creating the possibility he’s also in need of a freshen-up.

After solid contributions of 38 and 28 with the bat in the First Test, the youngster failed both times at Lord’s – and has taken just three wickets in the series.

And of course you know where all this is leading – a potential return for Mitch Marsh.

Cricbuzz cricket writer Bharat Sundaresan revealed there was a “lot of attention” and “handshakes” for Marsh at Australia’s last hitout before tonight’s match.

Marsh played the last of his 32 Tests on Australia’s tour of England in 2019 but remains a much-loved member of the Aussie set-up.

Cummins hasn’t been revealing his final XI until just before play so any changes outside Murphy for Lyon are unlikely to be known until then.