Last Update: December 28, 2022, 07:28 AM IST
Cameron Green not being able to bowl in the second innings is a big blow for Australia. (AP Photo)
Cameron Green – the second costliest buy in the recent Indian Premier League auction – will miss next week’s third and final Test against South Africa.
Australian all-rounder Cameron Green was on Wednesday ruled out of the third Sydney Test against South Africa with a fractured finger and will not bowl again in Melbourne.
23-year-old fast bowler Anrich Nortje took a bad rap on his finger while batting on the second day of the second Test in Melbourne. Cricket field on Tuesday.
He retired hurt and went for a scan.
“Cameron Green has a small fracture on his right index finger,” Cricket Australia said.
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“He will bat again in this match but will not bowl, followed by a recovery period leading into the tour India (in February).
It means Green – the second costliest buy in the recent Indian Premier League auction – will miss the third and final Test against the Proteas next week.
His inability to bowl in South Africa’s second innings in Melbourne was a major blow, having taken a career-best 5-27 in their first innings for 189.
Australia are also sweating on fast bowler Mitchell Starc, who also suffered a finger injury on Monday. If he is not available for the remaining matches of the Melbourne Test, Australia will have only three fit bowlers in captain Pat Cummins, fellow fast bowler Scott Boland and spinner Nathan Lyon.
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After resuming on 200, South Africa took four wickets, including David Warner’s with the first ball, but a half-century from Alex Carey strengthened Australia’s grip in the second Test.
At lunch on the third day, the hosts were 479/7 in their first innings, a lead of 290, with Carey making 62 not out and Ginger Green, batting with a fractured finger, on 14.
They opened at 386/3 with Travis Head scoring 48 and Carry nine following Warner’s 200 not out in his 100th Test on the second day in scorching heat.
The veteran opener retired with severe cramps after scoring his third Test double century, but resumed his innings when Head was dismissed for 51, to heavy applause.
He told host broadcaster Fox before the start of the game that he had had a “bad night’s sleep”.
“I got up maybe six or seven times,” he said, and the first ball was bowled by an Anrich Nortje yorker as Australia lost three wickets for five runs.
The temperature was much cooler than Tuesday’s 37 °C (98.6 Fahrenheit), with generally cloudy conditions favoring bowlers.
And the ever-dangerous Nortje took advantage, in the third over bowling head to a flustered Warner the very next ball.
Pat Cummins defends with a hat-trick delivery, but doesn’t last long.
When South Africa successfully reviewed a caught behind decision off Kagiso Rabada, the Australian captain fell to the third ball which was initially overruled by the umpire.
Carey was joined by Nathan Lyon and they steadied the ship.
Lyon scored an entertaining 25 before getting rid of Khaya Zondo off Lungi Ngidi
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(This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed)