In a significant blow to the Australian cricket team, all-rounder Cameron Green has been ruled out of the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy and the entire season due to lower spine surgery. Green has been advised to undergo this procedure after suffering his fifth stress fracture in the lower back.
The decision to proceed with surgery came after consultations with the Cricket Australia medical team, particularly following an initial injury sustained in the UK in September. The surgery will involve fusing screws and a titanium cable into his lower back, similar to procedures previously undergone by players like James Pattinson and New Zealand’s Shane Bond. This operation aims to stabilize the stress fracture and minimize the risk of future injuries.
Green’s recovery is expected to take a minimum of six months, although Cricket Australia has indicated it could extend to nine months. As a result, he will miss not only the Border-Gavaskar Trophy but also the tour to Sri Lanka and the Champions Trophy. However, there is a possibility he could return in time for the Indian Premier League and the World Test Championship final in June, should Australia qualify, as well as the Test tour of the West Indies later next year.
Cricket Australia provided insight into Green’s condition, revealing that he has experienced four stress fractures in his lower back since his junior career. A statement from the organization noted, “Cam has a unique defect in an adjacent area to the fracture that is believed to be contributing to the injury.”
Despite being cleared to bowl in August and completing 21.2 overs in the UK, it was reported that there were no indications of vulnerability in his body prior to this injury.
The surgery Green is set to undergo has been performed on 26 patients over nearly two decades by New Zealand surgeons Grahame Inglis and Rowan Schouten, with 24 of those patients returning to full fitness, highlighting the potential for a successful recovery.
