Due to a back surgery, Australia’s fast-bowling all-round player Cameron Green may be unable to play in the crucial Border-Gavaskar Trophy match against India, which begins in Perth on November 22.

Green’s involvement in Australia’s ODI series against England was halted due to a diagnosis of a stress fracture in his lower back. According to a story on cricket.com.au, the all-rounder met with representatives of the Australian squad late on Thursday night to go over his choices. After many days of talks and analysis, he was given the option of surgery or rehabilitation.

“In the next few days, Green is anticipated to make a decision on whether to have a spinal surgery like the one that speedy Ben Dwarshuis, Jason Behrendorff, and James Pattinson have all had done.

“The operation, performed by pioneering Christchurch surgeons Grahame Inglis and Rowan Schouten and which involves screws and titanium wire to bind vertebrae together, would rule Green out for months,” according to the BBC.

In the first Test match against New Zealand in Wellington in March, Green—who made his Test debut in 2020—was named player of the match with a career-best score of 174 not out. Green has a 48.57 batting average in 28 Test matches in addition to taking 35 wickets.

Given that Green had back stress fractures as a teenager, Australia would have to replace Green at number six in the batting order for both the much-anticipated series against India and the Sri Lankan visit if he chooses to go with the operation.

In his absence, Steve Smith may return to batting at number four, while Mitchell Marsh would have to take up more bowling duties. Alongside Usman Khawaja, other options for opening the batting include Marcus Harris, Cameron Bancroft, Matthew Renshaw, Nic Maddinson, or the juvenile batting prodigy Sam Konstas.

Before the inaugural Border-Gavaskar Trophy Test kicks off at Perth Stadium on November 22, Australia has two “A” team games against India “A” and three more Sheffield Shield matches ahead of them in Brisbane and Mackay.