
Tags: Cricket, Australia, Cameron Green, Icc Test Championship, India, Steven Smith
Cameron Green looks set to miss Australia's first Test against India, with vice-captain Steve Smith suggesting it will be unlikely the all-rounder features in Nagpur.
Green suffered a fractured finger during the Boxing Day Test with South Africa in December, and has not played a first-class match since then.
He sustained a further knock to the injury while in a training camp ahead of Thursday's opening match, casting further doubt on his participation.
Now, Smith has indicated it will be a long shot for Green to feature at Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium, with the tourists reluctant to rush him back into the fray.
"I don't think he is [going to play]," he said. "I don't think he has even faced fast bowlers. So I dare say he won't be playing.
"Who knows [though]? I'm not entirely sure. We'll wait and see. But it's unlikely, I think."
Having eschewed a warm-up game ahead of the four-match series, Australia will be heading into their clash in Nagpur with only a few days on Indian surfaces under their belt.
Smith is reluctant to speculate how the pitch will affect his side's selections when it comes to their bowling attack, adding: "It's pretty dry.
"There's a section that's quite dry. Other than that, I can't really get a good gauge on it. I don't think there will be a heap of bounce in the wicket.
"I think for the seamers, it will be quite skiddy and maybe [have] a bit of up-and-down movement as the game goes on. The cracks felt quite loose. We'll wait and see when we get out there."