Selectors look on positive side for Green’s Ashes roleScott BaileyAAPSat, 18 October 2025 1:49PM
Cameron Green is expected to be fine to bowl in his final two Sheffield Shield games before the Ashes, as officials play down the allrounder’s side soreness.
Green has been ruled out of the one-day series against India starting on Sunday in Perth, in a move chief selector George Bailey labelled “conservative”.
The allrounder was only going to play in the first two ODIs as a batter for Australia, before returning to play the final two rounds of the Shield before the Ashes.
But Bailey insisted on Saturday Green’s side soreness was not a concern on his return from back surgery, and he was on track to be bowling fully by the Ashes.
“We’ve put so much time and energy into building out the plan for him to be available for the first Test as an allrounder,” Bailey told reporters in Perth.
“The way he swings the cricket bat and white-ball cricket, even if it just sets him back for 24 more hours (it’s not worth it).
“I don’t think it’s a setback in terms of changing his Shield preparation, or my understanding of his availability for what we expect to come up.”
In a wide-ranging interview, Bailey indicated selectors were no clearer on whether Pat Cummins would be available for the first Test than when the captain spoke this week.
But he insisted selectors were still “really confident” Cummins would “play a major part” in the Ashes, and that Australia had enough bowling depth to call upon.
Selectors will name their Ashes squad after the next round of Shield matches, before most Australian players have one last hit-out with their states from November 10.
Bailey would not rule any players in or out out of Australia’s squad for the first Test in Perth on November 21.
But there is no question he and fellow selectors have several crucial decisions to make in the next fortnight.
Marnus Labuschagne is almost certain to have batted his way back into the team after centuries in four of his six innings for Queensland this summer.
The 31-year-old is back in Australia’s squad for the ODI series in place of Green, but is not expected to play in Perth after travelling late on Saturday.
Bailey suggested “you don’t have to be Einstein” to know that Labuschagne had responded well to his Test axing, and that the Queenslander could open or bat No.3 for Australia.
“What we’re seeing, we like. There’s no need to shy away from that,” Bailey said.
“I think he can (bat either). He has done it in the past. I think with his skill set and with most players that bat in the top three around the country, that’s reasonably interchangeable.”
With Labuschagne in the Test side, that would leave one spot in Australia’s line-up for either an opener or Tasmanian allrounder Beau Webster.
Bailey spoke highly of Matt Renshaw and Jake Weatherald, also noting he had been impressed by the way Sam Konstas bounced back against Victoria with 53 on Friday.
But he also made it clear Webster would be in the squad for Perth if fit and able to bowl, after missing the opening two Shield rounds with a rolled ankle.
“We’re taking Beau through the journey of ‘let’s work back from Sydney rather than up to Perth, and for the sake of one extra week, get it right’,” Bailey said.
“You can’t fault from coming in at Sydney (last summer), the contributions that he’s made.
“He’ll be in Perth. Everyone can relax.”
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