Cameron Green thought his broken finger was “inverted” when it was first cracked at the MCG before scans revealed the damage which is set to sideline him for some time.
But Green, who seized his first test five-wicket haul in Melbourne before making an unbeaten half-century as he batted through the pain, remains hopeful he’ll be back for February’s tour of India.
Green said he knew he’d suffered a serious injury almost immediately after getting hit by an Anrich Nortje bouncer, with scans revealing a “minor fracture” which has ruled him out of the final test in Sydney.
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The 23-year-old will also miss a return to the BBL with the Perth Scorchers but having seen the damage up close knew he was in trouble.
“You try to not show the pain straight away,” Green told cricket.com.au.
“”I marked my guard again and walked a couple of steps, and I was like ‘I reckon my finger is out of place here’.
“I checked on it – it looked a little bit inverted is the only way I can explain it. It already had a big cut in it, then I got the bad news after the scan.”
Green retired hurt before stumps and said he wasn’t going to return “at all” before the Australia’s lost three quick wickets on the morning of day three.
“I was only going to go out there if we lost four or five wickets in the first session,” he said.
“If we‘d lost all the wickets in the second session, I wasn’t going to go out there at all.”
Green bravely batted for 177 balls, more than it took Alex Carey to score his maiden test hundred, defending early before pushing to an unbeaten 51.
“I think that‘s what happens when you get injured – your game simplifies in a way,” said Green.
“There’s only a few shots you can play and everything apart from that you have to defend.
“It‘s a funny thing when you’re in that mindset, you’re actually really clear on what you have to do.”
The injury setback came just days after Green was snapped up for an Australian record $3.15 million in the IPL auction, forcing him to ride an emotional rollercoaster.
He doesn’t like missing any cricket for Australia, and that’s why he’s set his sights on recovering in time for the tour of India.
“It obviously hurts not playing for Australia. I’ve played every game since I debuted so it’s going to feel a bit weird watching Test cricket from home,” said Green.
“I’m definitely going to miss it. I’m going to do as much as I can to get it right and try to go to India.
“A lot of people talk about the tour to India, how tough it is mentally and physically. It‘s going to be a massive tour for us. We’re as best prepared as we’re ever going to be, so (I’m) looking forward to it.”
