Australia allrounder Cameron Green appears set to miss the second Test against South Africa in Gqeberha, with medical and coaching staff eyeing a return for the final match of the series in Cape Town as a more realistic timeframe. Green, who suffered an abdominal strain during the final ODI in Potchefstroom, has been carefully managing his recovery while the opening Test of the series took place in Durban.
While Green’s absence has forced a restructuring of the Australian setup, the team has also received mixed fitness updates regarding other members of the touring party, including Josh Inglis, as they prepare for the next leg of the tour at St George’s Park.
Green returned to the nets for the first time on Thursday since sustaining the injury. However, his workload was strictly managed, with the allrounder facing only gentle throwdowns before performing some slip catching on the outfield. This light session was followed by a broader fitness workout with the team’s medical staff watching closely from the sidelines.
Assistant coach Matthew Wade, speaking ahead of Australia’s first training session at St George’s Park, provided an update on Green’s rehabilitation progress and the cautious approach the team is taking with the valuable player.
"He’s here today. I’m not sure of his program, but he’ll be hitting over the next week and he started to get moving last Test," Wade said. "I think maybe more looking for the third Test, but he’s starting to get moving, which is a positive sign."
The cautious approach with Green is compounded by strategic considerations from the team management. Head coach Andrew McDonald has previously indicated that Green would be unlikely to bowl at any stage in the current series, even if he were to be deemed fully fit to play purely as a specialist or all-round batter.
Green’s absence in the opening Test in Durban forced a reshuffle in the Australian batting order. Matt Renshaw was promoted to the pivotal No. 5 position to cover for the missing allrounder, a move that paid handsome dividends as Renshaw compiled an impressive 272 runs during the match. Green himself had looked primed for an extended run at No. 5 following a strong series against Bangladesh in August, making his delayed entry into the current series a frustrating setback for the player’s development in the Test format.
While Green’s return is likely to be delayed until Cape Town, Australia’s injury outlook offers some more immediate encouragement in the case of wicketkeeper-batter Josh Inglis. Inglis is more advanced in his recovery from a fractured finger and has been ramping up his preparations. He will continue to increase the intensity of his batting sessions over the coming days after successfully facing fast bowlers Scott Boland and Michael Neser off their full run-ups during an intense centre-wicket net session.
"He’ll start to push for this Test," Wade said regarding Inglis. "Whether his finger is 100% right for this Test, I’m not sure, but he’s looking to put himself in the frame."
The potential inclusion of Inglis could provide selection food for thought, just as Beau Webster’s position at No. 7 faces some level of scrutiny. However, given that Australia secured a dominant victory in the first Test in Durban, making unforced changes appears unlikely. The team management is expected to maintain stability, provided that all the frontline fast bowlers pull up well from their heavy workloads in the opening fixture. Webster himself was heavily involved in Thursday’s preparations, bowling alongside Boland and Neser in the centre-wicket nets.
As preparations continue at St George’s Park, weather conditions could also play a part in tactical decisions for both sides. Current forecasts indicate that rain is expected for the first two days of the second Test, which is scheduled to get underway on October 18.
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