RENSHAW, HANDSCOMB IN BATTLE OF THE BATS

PETER Handscomb and Matthew Renshaw are firming for a first Test selection shootout in India, unless Cameron Green can make up rapid ground in his recovery from a fractured finger.

Gun all-rounder Green has already been ruled out of bowling in the first Test, but he is in serious danger of missing the Nagpur series opener altogether, with less than a week to convince selectors and medical staff that he’s ready to bat in a Test match.

If Green fails to make the cut for the first Test starting on Thursday, an intriguing selection battle looms between Handscomb and Renshaw.

Left-hand Renshaw is the incumbent No.6 from the Sydney Test, but right-hander Handscomb would allow Australia to break up left-handers Travis Head and Alex Carey in the batting order – often seen as an important tactical play in spinning conditions.

Green is not out of the running to play as a specialist batsman, but captain Pat Cummins admits time is running out.

“I know he won’t be bowling (in the first Test). The next week’s obviously really important. He hasn’t been able to do a lot yet,” Cummins said, with the full tour to be shown exclusively on Fox Sports and Foxtel, with Kayo also carrying a Hindi feed.

“I think the nature of that particular injury is once it comes good, it comes good really quickly. Hopefully we’re at that stage where the next week, it really does improve a lot.

“I think he was going to try and have a hit this afternoon. I haven’t seen how that’s gone, but we’ll see how the next week goes, and map out a plan. We’re still kind of hopeful.”

The other selection shootout looming for Australia in Nagpur next week is the choice of who to partner Nathan Lyon as the second spinner.

Cummins said he was particularly impressed by Ashton Agar and youngster Todd Murphy at a spin camp in North Sydney last week before the team flew to India.

Murphy, 22, is considered a genuine chance to debut, despite being an off-spinner like Lyon.

“I’ve only seen a little bit of Todd. Obviously he’s done really well in Shield cricket, and the guys that have faced him have been really impressed with not just his stock ball, but also his variations,” Cummins said.

“Mixing up the pace, flights it slightly differently to what Nathan does, and getting those opportunities like at North Sydney to really have the conditions in your favour is fun.

“I thought he and Ashton Agar in particular really enjoyed it.”

Meanwhile, Travis Head is being given a licence to thrill in his middleorder role and is being endorsed as Australia’s key batting weapon.

“Trav just shows time and time again that he finds a way to score runs. He’s a really formidable player when he steps out there to bat and he’s got that intent,” Cummins said.