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MELBOURNE: Injured Australian all-rounder Cameron Green has said he will do everything possible to be fit for the gruelling four-Test series against India, beginning in early February next year, as it was a massive assignment.
While the 23-year-old, who emerged the second-highest earner ever in the history of the IPL auctions in Kochi recently, will miss the third and final Test against South Africa at Sydney due to a fractured index finger, Green said he wants to be quickly ready for the “mentally and physically” challenging India tour.
The Border-Gavaskar Trophy tour is crucial for both India and Australia as the World Test Championship final slots are at stake for both sides, and Green does not want to miss the opportunity to be part of such an important series.
“It obviously hurts not playing for Australia (in the final Test versus South Africa at Sydney). I’ve played every game since I debuted, so it’s going to feel a bit weird watching Test cricket from home,” said Green, who suffered a serious finger injury after getting hit by an Anrich Nortje bouncer on Tuesday.
The tall all-rounder batted through pain on Wednesday to score an unbeaten half-century before Australia declared their first innings at 575 for eight wickets at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on day three.
Though ruled out of the Sydney Test, the all-rounder who went to Mumbai Indians for Rs 17.5 crore during the IPL auction, has set his sights on the India series.
“It’s a great (Australian dressing room) environment to be a part of so I’m definitely going to miss it (in Sydney Test). I’m going to do as much as I can to get it right and try to go to India,” Green was quoted as saying by Cricket Australia on Wednesday.
“A lot of people talk about the tour to India, how tough it is mentally and physically. It’s going to be a massive tour for us. We’re as best prepared as we’re ever going to be, so (I’m) looking forward to it,” added Green.
Though Green did not specify a return date, he hoped the January 4-8 Test at Sydney is the only match he will likely miss.
Braving the pain of the broken right index finger, Green gave Alex Carey company helping him reach his century before the wicketkeeper-batter was caught and bowled by Marco Jansen.
“You try to not show the pain straightaway. I marked my guard again and walked a couple of steps, and I was like ‘I reckon my finger is out of place here’. I checked on it — it looked a little bit inverted is the only way I can explain it. It already had a big cut in it, then I got the bad news after the scan,” said Green.
Green, however, added 45 more runs on Wednesday, becoming the first Australian in four years to score a half-century and grab five wickets in the same Test.
“There’s only a few shots you can play (after that kind of injury) and everything apart from that you have to defend. It’s a funny thing when you’re in that mindset, you’re actually really clear on what you have to do,” he added.
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