Australia all-rounder Cameron Green is set to miss the first Test against South Africa in Durban, starting October 9, as he continues to recover from an abdominal strain, according to reports.

Green, 27, picked up the injury while playing a hook shot during the third ODI against South Africa in Potchefstroom last month. He did not feature in Australia’s two-day warm-up fixture and was restricted to light conditioning work on the sidelines, IANS reported.

The setback is particularly frustrating for the selectors as Green had also been nursing a sore shoulder through the ODI series, which limited his bowling workload. The abdominal strain affects his batting, bowling and fielding.

His likely absence puts Cooper Connolly in line for a second Test cap, according to Cricket News. The three-Test series counts toward the 2025-27 World Test Championship, with Australia leading the table at 80 per cent and South Africa second at 75.