Cameron Green, the talented allrounder for Australia, faces a challenging road ahead as he is scheduled to undergo surgery for a lower spine injury. This medical procedure comes in response to the diagnosis of his fifth stress fracture in the lower back. Green's situation arose following an injury sustained during Australia's tour in the UK on September 24. After consultations with medical professionals from Cricket Australia over the past two weeks, it was determined that he must follow a similar procedure as other cricketers like Jason Behrendorff and Ben Dwarshuis.
The surgical intervention Green will undertake involves the insertion of screws and a titanium cable to stabilize the fractured area in his lower back. This procedure aims to not only treat the immediate issue but also reduce the likelihood of future injuries. As Green prepares for this operation, he has sought out advice from his Western Australia and club teammate Behrendorff, who has previously undergone the same surgery.
Typically, recovery from such surgery varies based on individual circumstances. However, while Cricket Australia assesses a six-month recovery timeline, this may extend to nine months for some players. This timeline eliminates Green from participating in the entire summer cricket season, which includes a highly anticipated Test series against India, a tour of Sri Lanka, and the Champions Trophy. If recovery proceeds as planned, he may return in time for the Indian Premier League (IPL), the World Test Championship final, contingent on Australia’s participation, and a pivotal three-Test series in the Caribbean during mid-2024.
Initially, scans conducted in the UK had confirmed the fracture, but additional examinations in Australia indicated this injury differs from previous stress fractures Green has encountered. Over the years, Green has experienced a total of four lower back stress injuries. These issues have persisted since his junior cricket days, culminating in his Test debut in 2019. Cricket Australia’s medical team expressed confusion regarding the emergence of this latest fracture, especially considering their successful management of Green's fitness over the past four years at the international level. Although he has a history of injuries, which inherently increases his vulnerability, the current situation remains particularly perplexing to the medical staff.
Cricket Australia issued a statement clarifying the reasoning behind the decision to perform the surgery. It noted that Green has an unusual defect near the site of the fracture, which is thought to be contributing to the current injury. After extensive discussions, it was concluded that surgery is the best way to address the defect, stabilizing the affected region and significantly reducing the chance of further injuries.
It is worth mentioning that a routine scan conducted in August, which is part of Green’s regular health check-ups, showed no issues at the time. This gave him the green light to participate in the UK tour, where he bowled a total of 21.2 overs across five T20 Internationals and two One Day Internationals. His maximum workload came during a match at Chester-le-Street, where he bowled six overs, demonstrating his capacity to contribute effectively before experiencing soreness.
There is, however, some debate within Australian cricket regarding Green's bowling load during the UK tour. Comparisons have been made to the cautious management of fellow Australian cricketer Mitchell Marsh, who bowled only four overs during the entire tour after Green’s departure. It is understood that there were no warning signs indicating Green’s vulnerability as he prepared for the tour. His bowling workload this year has been noticeably lighter when compared to previous seasons, recording only 124.3 overs in 2024 thus far, while he had bowled over 230 overs in 2021 and 2022 combined.
The surgical procedure Green is set to undergo has a track record of success among several players. For example, Behrendorff had the surgery in 2019 and subsequently benefitted from the expertise of Cricket Australia team physio Nick Jones, who facilitated his recovery. Insights from ESPNcricinfo indicate that this specific surgical approach has been performed on over 26 patients under the care of New Zealand surgeons Grahame Inglis and Rowan Schouten over nearly two decades, with an impressive 24 of them successfully resuming full fitness. One notable case is Kyle Jamieson, who faced challenges in his recovery but is on track to make a return during the upcoming domestic competition in New Zealand.
Other players like Dwarshuis have seen positive results following the surgery, returning to competitive cricket within a matter of months. Dwarshuis was back in grade cricket after seven months and has continued to participate in first-class matches since his recovery. Behrendorff experienced a slower return, not playing again until December 2020, but he has since reported minimal issues with his back. In contrast, Pattinson faced a lengthy recovery, taking 12 months to return to first-class cricket and extending to 22 months for a Test match appearance, ultimately leading to his retirement due to ongoing injuries.
In contrast, Matt Henry underwent the surgery at a young age of 20, and his subsequent successful performances against Australia this year demonstrate the potential for a healthy comeback after such a procedure. As Cameron Green navigates this critical juncture in his sporting career, the cricketing community remains hopeful for his swift and effective recovery, allowing him the chance to again shine on cricket's grand stage.