Australia’s Ashes preparations disrupted with Cameron Green sidelined

While Cricket Australia insists the issue is low-grade, it is a significant disruption for Green as he looks to build up his bowling loads ahead of the Ashes.

CA said the all-rounder is due to return in the third Sheffield Shield round, by which point he will have just two matches to prepare for the first Test.

Marnus Labuschagne has been called up to the one-day squad in Green’s absence. Labuschagne is almost certain to regain his Test spot as well after a barnstorming start to the domestic season.

Green had only just returned to competitive bowling after a 12-month layoff because of a back injury that required surgery last year.

He sent down four overs, taking a wicket, in Western Australia’s Sheffield Shield loss to NSW at the WACA Ground in early October, and had been building up his bowling output in the hope he would not have any restrictions come the first Test.

The presence of a fit and firing Green would heap pressure on fellow all-rounder Webster, who made his Test debut at the start of the year in the West Australian’s absence.

The pair played four Tests together during the Australian Winter, with Green filling the role of specialist No. 3 batter, and Webster employed as a genuine all-rounder at No. 6.

National selectors have been unwilling to publicly guarantee Webster’s spot for the first Test.

But the risk of relying on Green as a sole all-roounder has been brought into focus by this setback, even despite CA claiming it is minor.

Labuschagne’s four centuries for Queensland already this season has effectively made him a lock to play against England in Perth. The query has remained whether the Queenslander will bat at No. 3 — where he has had most of his Test success — or partner Usman Khawaja at the top of the order.

Webster would be the man to make way if Labuschagne batted at No. 3, a scenario in which Green would slide down to No. 6 and a specialist opener would be employed alongside Khawaja.

Tasmanian Jake Weatherald’s blistering 94 against WA in Hobart on Thursday has left him as the most likely candidate to be paired with Khawaja if Webster is dropped - notwithstanding incumbent Sam Konstas made 53 for NSW at Junction Oval on Friday.

But the Green news has the potential to spook the selection panel.

Even if Green returns to bowl strongly in the next two Sheffield Shield matches before the first Test, the panel will be mindful of the risk him being unable to bowl mid-Test and the burden that would place on the rest of the Australian attack.

The threat of something going awry is amplified by the almost certain absence of Pat Cummins for the start of the series, meaning Australia will likely rely more heavily on fellow quicks Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Scott Boland.

Webster has not yet featured in the Shield season after hurting his ankle in the lead-up to round one. However Cricket Tasmania has stressed that the issue is minor, and that he is on track to face Victoria at the Junction in the final week of October.

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That match is part of the third Shield round, with selectors due to name their first Test squad between rounds three and four.

Labuschagne had been dropped for the one-day series, which begins in Perth on Sunday, after struggling against South Africa in August, but has won a reprieve.

Green joins Josh Inglis (calf) and Adam Zampa (personal) as omissions for the first game against India, whose side includes Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli.