IND vs AUS: Former Australia Captain Believes Green’s Injury Could Open Door For Forgotten Opener’s Return

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Former Australia captain Mark Taylor believes that all-rounder Cameron Green's injury could open up the door for forgotten opener Cameron Bancroft's return to the Test team in the marquee Border-Gavaskar Trophy against India next month.

Green is likely to miss the upcoming five-match Test series against India at home due to a stress fracture on his lower back that required surgery, according to reports.

The 25-year-old batting all-rounder, who bowls pace, has previously suffered four stress fractures in his back but has not encountered any issues in that area since 2019. Green's absence would mean Australia will have to rejig their batting order.

Former skipper Taylor acknowledged that Green's absence will be huge as Australia felt it in the Ashes last year when the all-rounder was replaced by Mitchell Marsh due to injury.

"It's an awkward one isn't it? Cam Green was out of the Australian side during the Ashes series of last year and Mitch Marsh came in but Australia were very keen to get him back in," Taylor said on 'Wide World of Sports'.

Following David Warner's retirement, Steve Smith has opened the batting alongside Usman Khawaja for Australia in the longest format. Taylor, however, feels Smith could go back to number 4 to fill in the void left by Green.

Bancroft was tipped to fill the opening spot post Warner's retirement earlier this year but the selectors recalled Green to the Test side with Smith being pushed to open the innings.

However, the veteran batter didn't fare too well at the top of the batting order against West Indies as well as New Zealand, and Taylor believes Smith will again drop down to the number four spot, opening the door for Bancroft's recall.

"I think Smith will move back to No.4. So the question is who will open? I'd love to see a right-handed opening batsman get the opportunity. And to me at the moment ... I would have Bancroft penciled in alongside (Usman) Khawaja," Taylor said.

Bancroft, who served a nine-month ban for his role in the 2018 ball-tampering incident, has been the leading run-scorer in the Sheffield Shield for the last two years.

Taylor also feels the selectors could include young opener Sam Konstas, who hit back-to-back hundreds against South Australia in the Sheffield Shield, in the Test squad for the Border Gavaskar Trophy. The five-match series starts on November 22 in Perth.