'I don't think it is a setback...': George Bailey breaks silence on star all-rounder being ruled out of India ODI series

Australia chief selector George Bailey revealed that the decision to pull Cameron Green out of the three-match ODI series against India was taken so that he fully recovers by the time of the Ashes opener against England that will begin from November 21. This comes after the all-rounder was ruled out of the India series due to side soreness and was replaced by Marnus Labuschagne in the squad.

Bailey revealed that they had planned to play Green as a specialist batter in the first two matches of the series against India. They would have rested him for the final match, but eventually the 26-year-old was ruled out of the entire assignment. He further revealed that despite this setback, Green will be featuring in West Australia's round 3 and 4 of the Sheffield Shield.

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"We've put so much time and energy into building out the plan for him to be available for the first Test as an allrounder. So for the sake of him only going to play the first two one-dayers anyway, and with the way he swings the cricket bat in white-ball cricket, it just (helped us make) the decision to approach this more conservatively," Bailey said as quoted by the Sydney Morning Herald.

"But I don't think it's a setback in terms of it not changing his Shield preparation or his availability for what we expect to come. He'll keep his plan of playing Shield (round) three and four … and that should provide pretty good time that he'll be in a good place to be ready to bowl (in the first Test)," he added.

Green expected to play key role in The Ashes

Meanwhile, Green had featured in Australia's three-match ODI assignment against South Africa in August and was expected to play the India series as well. However, him being ruled out of the India ODIs may go on to benefit the Baggy Greens in the long run as Green can contribute well in both the batting and bowling departments in the upcoming Ashes series.

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Australia squad for India ODIs: Mitchell Marsh (c), Xavier Bartlett, Cooper Connolly, Ben Dwarshuis, Nathan Ellis, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Matthew Kuhnemann, Marnus Labuschagne, Mitchell Owen, Josh Philippe, Matthew Renshaw, Matthew Short, Mitchell Starc. Game two onwards: Adam Zampa, Alex Carey, Josh Inglis