MITCHELL JOHNSON: Cameron Green’s back issues could play crucial role in Test team starting XI to face India

Without knowing if Cam Green has just a hot spot or another stress fracture in his back, it is really hard to know what lies ahead for him this summer.

But it goes without saying that having scans on a back injury is not the way he wanted to start the Australian summer of cricket.

At 25 now, Green should be in a good position as a bowler – with his body fully developed and strong enough to hold his action.

It doesn’t mean you’re home free though. Without having analysed Green’s recent bowling action, if you have too much counter rotation, that can become a problem.

The other issue with bowling is you need to be bowling, not stopping and starting. Bowlers need a certain amount of balls in the week to be on top of that.

Having endured a similar journey to Green when I was young in terms of multiple back stress fractures, I actually refused to get scans on my back after my last stress fractures when I was about 23 or 24 because I knew the scans would most likely light up with something.

Since I had a stress fracture that didn’t heal properly, I guess I was used to it and got to know my body and its pains really well. I also found that being scanned plays on your mind if something little shows up, when it could be nothing to really be concerned about.

While we still don’t know the extent of Green’s latest back injury, I would not be throwing away the dream of being a genuine top-line all-rounder just yet.

Green as an all-rounder to me is a better option for any team he is in. That’s his advantage. He is still young and has plenty of time on his side. It comes down to whether he can cope with the job physically.

I spent most of my career witnessing Shane Watson playing that role and he loved it. It’s a rewarding job and an important one at that.

Watson had many injury setbacks and comebacks. He considered at times whether he should stop bowling, but decided he was committed no matter what and felt that was the best role for him to play. And to be honest, we needed a player like that in the team.

If Green’s back, bowling action and all the things that come with being a bowler don’t work for him then I can still see him doing a job as a batsman and having a successful international career.

If Green is cleared to play in this summer’s Test series against India as a batsman only then he deserves his spot.

He’s looked comfortable since being promoted to No.4 and his Test batting average of 36.2 looks to be on the up.

The only worry is whether Mitch Marsh can cover with the ball. Marsh ended a long bowling absence in international cricket last week in a one-dayer in England and then missed the deciding match after pulling up sore.

You have Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood and Nathan Lyon as the main bowlers, which should be plenty. But having the two all-rounders in Green and Marsh is a bonus and we’ve seen that Australia like to lessen the seam workload on the big three quicks.

Watson did it for a long period of time and was capable of bowling whenever we needed him to. It might be only 10 overs in an innings or much more if really needed in certain conditions.

That’s the all-rounder role. I think Marsh should be putting his hand up to be the leader in this position if Green doesn’t play or can’t bowl to begin the India series.

It could add a little more pressure for runs if Green is just a No.4, but it could also be a positive just to focus on his batting.

He could train like a batter and not put his body through sessions where he needs to focus on all three facets, batting, bowling and fielding. It would also free up some mental space to commit to his batting in an important position.

I always say that you have a say in your own career. And it can be tough to make these decisions as a player. So Green will have some thinking to do for sure.

He will have these challenges along the way and may at times question himself. He and the medical staff will be in discussions on what to do moving forward.

Injuries happen and they are part of cricket. His body may just need a bit more time to adjust to the international schedule.