In a remarkable display of sportsmanship and camaraderie, a timely message from Indian pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah significantly eased Australian all-rounder Cameron Green’s anxieties on the eve of his back surgery last October. Green, who had been grappling with a stress fracture, chose to undergo surgery despite natural healing being an option, and it was Bumrah’s reassuring words and his own inspiring comeback that filled the young Australian with immense confidence.
Speaking ahead of the highly anticipated World Test Championship (WTC) Final against South Africa, Green revealed the extraordinary gesture from Bumrah. “Jasprit Bumrah reached out the night before I was getting surgery. He was in the middle of a Test match in India,” Green shared with reporters, emphasizing the thoughtfulness of the act. “Just a few things like that are really special and make you feel a lot better about it. To get someone like him to reach out and then to watch him during the summer, to see how good he is obviously post-surgery, filled me with a lot of confidence.”
Bumrah himself has a well-documented history of back injuries, having undergone a similar procedure that forced him to miss the 2022 T20 World Cup. His subsequent triumphant return to international cricket, playing a pivotal role in India’s journey to the 2023 ODI World Cup final and their T20 World Cup title victory, served as a powerful testament to the success of such surgeries and the possibility of a strong comeback. Furthermore, Bumrah’s dominant performance in the recent Border-Gavaskar Trophy, where he claimed 32 wickets and earned the Player of the Series award, further solidified Green’s belief in his own recovery path.
Green’s injury, a stress fracture in his back, stemmed from an unusual bone development near his L4 vertebra that restricted spinal movement and caused a rare facet joint fracture. While natural healing would have meant a longer layoff, Green opted for surgery in October, a decision he now feels vindicated by.
Now fully recovered, Green is set to make his return to Test cricket in the WTC Final as a specialist batter, a role he’s comfortable with given his junior career experience batting in the top order. His preparation has been excellent, with three centuries in five county matches for Gloucestershire demonstrating his readiness. While he’s currently focusing on his batting, Green remains committed to his all-round game in the future. “The silver lining to having back injuries is I’ve got four chances only to be a batter,” he quipped, highlighting his temporary shift in focus.
The anecdote underscores the deep respect and shared understanding that exists within the cricketing fraternity, transcending national rivalries. Bumrah’s simple yet profound message provided not just comfort, but a crucial dose of belief for Green, who now looks to play a significant role in Australia’s WTC Final campaign.