Australia have provided an update on all-rounder Cameron Green, who is facing a race against time to attain full fitness ahead of Australia's second Test against South Africa, starting on October 18 Gqeberha. Green hasn’t yet returned to batting practice following an abdominal injury that he picked up during the final ODI of the series last month.
However, Australian head coach Andrew McDonald is hopeful that the young Green will feature in the series. He was also seen doing sprints on the outfield during the lunch interval on the final day of the Durban Test, which came as a sign of progress in his recovery.
"[Green's] progressing well. He's got a few things to go through in the next three, four days. He'll progress [on] that and, on the back of a soft tissue injury, it can accelerate quite quickly,” Andrew McDonald said.
Meanwhile, Australia have got some optimism surrounding Josh Inglis’s availability, who has joined the side and returned to the nets. He missed the first Test due to a finger injury suffered during the opening ODI against South Africa.
“Josh had a couple of hits during this Test match out the back of the nets during lunchtime, and that's gone well. It'll be more about the comfort with the splint and how that progresses. He'll have bat vs ball sessions in PE [Gqeberha] and we'll get more information there,” McDonald said.
Australia have taken a 1-0 lead in the three-match series after overcoming South Africa in the first Test with a 214-run win. Josh Halewood was the star of the show, claiming career-best figures of 6-49 in the final innings to help Australia bowl South Africa out for 206 in a chase of 421.