SL vs AUS | Cameron Green unavailable to bowl in the first two ODIs due to 'compromised' preparations

Australian seam-bowling all-rounder Cameron Green is unlikely to bowl in the first couple of the games of the five-match ODI series against Sri Lanka.

The decision to not risk the all-rounder comes after the Western Australian cricketer was unable to bowl at his home town in Perth due to inclement weather in the lead-up to the series.

Speaking to the reporters ahead of the ODI series opener against hosts Sri Lanka, head coach Andrew McDonald said:

"He is fractionally underdone at the moment so we're not going to risk that," McDonald was quoted as saying by Cricket Australia.

"He's not far off, it's basically a week or so just to build that up. He's had a bit of a compromised prep, so we're erring on the side of caution around that one," the coach revealed.

Green has become a pivotal part of Australia's seam-bowling attack due to his ability to attract bounce and movement.

He did reasonably well during the Ashes series at home last winter and the recent tour of Pakistan. And McDonald underlined his importance by pointing out that the selection of the all-rounder gives Australia the flexibility to field three spinners.

"He's important, that all-round capability gives you the flexibility to potentially pick three spinners," McDonald admitted.

"His bowling is important to this team we saw that in the Ashes series, we saw that in Pakistan," he said.

With Mitchell Starc and Mitchell Marsh unavailable for selection for the first ODI, Australia are in a spot of bother.

The ODI series is crucial to both sides' fortunes as it forms a part of the ICC Men's World Cup Super League, which will pave the way for automatic qualification for the 2023 World Cup in India.

The five-match series will commence in Pallekele on June 14. The tourists will look to get back to winning ways following a shock defeat in the final T20I at the same venue, courtesy of sensational late hitting from Lankan skipper Dasun Shanaka.