Green has broken finger with Starc also under injury cloud

The day two carnage at the MCG has resulted in a broken finger for Cameron Green, which could have longer term repercussions.

Confirmation of a broken finger to Australian golden boy Cameron Green has suddenly darkened the glow of a dominant home summer and David Warner’s dazzling double-century at the MCG. Picture: Quinn Rooney / Getty Images

Confirmation of a broken finger to Australian golden boy Cameron Green has suddenly darkened the glow of a dominant home summer and David Warner’s dazzling double-century at the MCG.

While Warner was up and walking around the change rooms post-match after spending much of Tuesday afternoon cramping badly, the news around Green was more troubling.

Sent in to bat when Warner limped from the field late in the third session, Green was smacked in the hand by a searing 145km/h ball from fired up South African quick Anrich Nortje, which breached the young gun’s glove.

The blow drew blood, with the sight of Green’s damaged index finger on his bowling hand enough to force him to retire hurt, with team officials confirming a “small fracture” on Wednesday morning.

He’ll play out the MCG Test, but won’t play the final clash in Sydney, with Mitchell Starc also set to miss some action after hurting his finger on day one.

“He will bat again in this match, but will not bowl,” a team spokesperson said of Green.

“Followed by a period of recovery leading into the tour of India.”

It all could leave the Aussies two bowlers down for the push towards what should be a likely victory at the MCG, although the official message is that Starc, who hurt the middle finger on his bowling hand on the opening day, could still bowl if needed.

But it’s believed Starc has already been ruled out of the Sydney Test and could be racing the clock to be fit for the start of the India tour, having damaged the tendon in the top of the middle finger of his bowling hand.

Cameron Green of Australia leaves the field after retiring with an injured finger. Picture: Quinn Rooney / Getty Images

That could mean up to four-six weeks with the finger in a splint, a scenario potentially facing Green, too.

The first Test against India in Nagpur is due to start on February 9, giving the duo just over six weeks to get themselves up and going again.

Green particularly could play a crucial role in India, with his all-round abilities giving selectors scope to play a second spinner, or more, on the expected turning tracks

The injuries come as a flu bug makes its way through the Australian squad, with Smith revealing he was “pretty crook” having battled illness in the days before the game.

After the retirements of Warner and then Green, Smith, who was out for 85, joked that spinner Nathan Lyon was “padded up, and we were only three wickets down”.

Smith said the stifling heat only added to the issues.

“It wasn‘t the most comfortable day of the crease. Yeah, boys were cramping, left, right and centre,” he said.

“I‘ve been pretty crook, actually, the last few days and had the flu, so it wasn’t much fun out there. Every time we ran two or three, I was just trying to suck in a few deep breaths and take as much time as I could.”