Australia have suffered another injury blow ahead of their ODI series against India, with Cameron Green ruled out with mild side soreness. Marnus Labuschagne has been called up to replace the 26-year-old all-rounder, whose absence could have significant implications for Australia’s Ashes build-up.
Green, who only recently returned to competitive bowling after missing the T20I tour of New Zealand, was ruled out altogether on Friday. Labuschagne, fresh from his fourth century of the home season for Queensland in their ongoing Sheffield Shield clash with South Australia, will fly from Adelaide after the match to join the Australian squad in Perth ahead of Sunday’s first ODI.
Green played in the opening round of the Shield for Western Australia against New South Wales last week, but bowled only four of the scheduled eight overs and took a wicket after being banned from bowling on consecutive days by Cricket Australia’s medical staff. This was due to Western Australia not being able to bat long enough in their first innings to allow a full day’s rest between spells.
While Green is likely to have failed in the first two ODIs, he has been building his workload with an eye on more overs in the third round of the Shield, which begins on 28 October. He was also to be rested from the third ODI in Sydney and the following T20I series to play in the third and fourth rounds of the Shield to prepare for the Ashes.
A Cricket Australia spokesman said: “Green will complete a short period of rehabilitation and is set to return to action in the third round of the Sheffield Shield to continue his preparations for the Ashes.”
Green’s setback may be small, but the worry is that the Ashes against England is just five weeks away. Captain Pat Cummins remains doubtful for at least the first Test in Perth from November 21 as he recovers from a lower back strain, while fringe pacemen Sean Abbott (hand) and Brendan Doggett (hamstring) are also injured. Jhye Richardson is yet to return to competitive cricket after shoulder surgery but had a long spell at the team’s first ODI practice in Perth on Thursday.
Labuschagne, who was initially left out of India’s squad after the one-and-one scoreline against South Africa in August, now gets a lifeline in Green’s absence.
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Issued by:
Saurabh Kumar
Published on:
October 17, 2025
