Will Cameron Green bowl against PBKS? KKR bowling coach Tim Southee offers update

Kolkata Knight Riders' marquee signing Cameron Green has resumed bowling in the nets and is edging closer to returning to the IPL playing XI as a full-fledged all-round option, bowling coach Tim Southee said on Sunday.

In Short

• Cameron Green resumed bowling in nets, close to match fitness
• Green is unlikely to bowl against Punjab Kings on Monday
• KKR are still searching for their first win, having lost both matches

Kolkata Knight Riders' high-profile signing Cameron Green has resumed bowling in the nets and is "not far away" from doing so in a match, bowling coach Tim Southee said on Sunday, offering an update ahead of their Indian Premier League clash against Punjab Kings.

The Australian all-format all-rounder, the IPL's costliest overseas buy at Rs 25.20 crore, is yet to bowl this season as his workload continues to be managed by Cricket Australia following back surgery.

"Yeah, Green's been bowling well, tracking his rehab and getting himself back to being able to bowl in games. He'll continue to do that," Southee said on the eve of the contest.

Despite bowling at full tilt during a practice session on Saturday, Green is unlikely to bowl against Punjab Kings on Monday, with the franchise unwilling to rush him back into a full role.

KKR's preparations also took a hit, with their match-day minus one session at Eden Gardens washed out. Most of the senior players stayed away, while a few domestic names, including Angkrish Raghuvanshi and Rahul Tripathi, trained indoors.

The spotlight on KKR's bowling has sharpened early in the season. Injuries and unavailability, Mustafizur Rahman, Harshit Rana, Akash Deep and Matheesha Pathirana among them, have left the attack short on experience. Green's absence as a bowling option has only added to those concerns.

It came into focus in their opening defeat to Mumbai Indians at the Wankhede Stadium, where KKR failed to defend 220.

When asked about Cameron Green not bowling, captain Ajinkya Rahane quipped, "Ask Cricket Australia," a remark that later prompted the board to clarify that the franchise remained fully aligned with the all-rounder's recovery timeline.

Southee said communication with the Australian board has been ongoing.

"We're in regular contact with Cricket Australia and I'm sure we'll see Cameron bowling soon. I'm sure he's not far away from bowling in a match," he said.

KKR are still searching for their first win, having lost both matches so far, including a 65-run defeat to Sunrisers Hyderabad in their previous outing on April 2.

There have been encouraging signs despite the results. Blessing Muzarabani impressed with 4 for 41, while Vaibhav Arora and Kartik Tyagi have contributed with timely wickets. But the experienced spin pair of Sunil Narine and Varun Chakravarthy are yet to find their rhythm.

"It's certainly a long tournament, two games in. With the setbacks with the bowlers we've been unable to have, it presents opportunities for other guys. We're still excited about the bowling group we've got," Southee said.

"They're inexperienced but they've got a tremendous amount of skill. We've seen it in glimpses in the first two games. It's our job to get a little bit more consistency out of them."

He also pointed to the need for early wickets, particularly in the powerplay.

"It's always hard when you're not taking wickets, particularly in the powerplay. Taking wickets early stems the run flow and makes things easier. We haven't quite managed to do that so far, but we'll plan accordingly and hopefully take those early wickets."

Selection calls have also been debated, with Tim Seifert, Rachin Ravindra and Rovman Powell yet to feature. Southee, however, said settling on the right combination is rarely straightforward.

"There's so much talent that it's hard to get the perfect equilibrium. But it's the side we thought was best for the first two games. We'll plan for what we're going to come up against and pick the team that gives us the best chance," he added.

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