The second Test between South Africa and Australia is set to begin on October 18, with Australia leading the series after a victory in the first match.
However, the team faces uncertainty regarding the participation of all-rounder Cameron Green, who is dealing with an injury. Following Australia’s win in Durban, head coach Andrew McDonald provided an update on Green’s condition.
McDonald clarified that while Green may be fit to bat, the likelihood of him bowling in this series is quite low.
“Green is making good progress. He will undergo some tests in the next three to four days. It’s a soft tissue injury, so improvements can happen quickly. During lunch in the last Test, Josh played some shots behind the nets, and he seemed fine. Now we need to see how comfortable he is with the splint. He will have batting sessions in Gqeberha, which will give us more information,” McDonald said.
If Green becomes available for the Tests in Gqeberha or Cape Town, Australia will face challenges in accommodating him in the middle order. This could impact Beau Webster, who may have to fight to retain his spot. Notably, Green was Australia’s most successful batsman during the series against Bangladesh in August.
Due to Green’s injury, Australia had to adjust their batting order in Durban. Matt Renshaw was moved to number five, while Nick Maddinson opened alongside Travis Head, a decision made by captain Pat Cummins. Renshaw justified this decision, scoring a total of 272 runs across both innings and taking two wickets in the final innings.
Regarding the batting order, McDonald stated, “From the outside, it seems there should be a specific order at certain times, with openers and middle-order players. However, we are more open-minded. The next Test will be on a different pitch, and we’ll determine Renshaw’s position before the next match.”
Considering their victory in Durban, if Green is unable to play in the second Test, it is unlikely that Australia will make any changes to the team.