Coulter-Nile, Pattinson in Aussie Test frame
If Nathan Coulter-Nile can keep his mouth shut, he’s likely to be summoned into Australia’s Test squad, bowling coaching Craig McDermott says.
Coulter-Nile has been suspended for the current Sheffield Shield round for showing dissent to an umpire’s decision in a second XI match last week.
But with Mitchell Starc injured and Mitchell Johnson retired, the West Australian is a likely candidate for the looming three-Test series against the West Indies, McDermott says.
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Starc suffered stress fractures in his right foot in the third Test against New Zealand.
“The good new for us, it’s not going to be as long as we thought so he’s going to be three weeks (out) and we’ll start working from there,” McDermott told ABC radio on Sunday.
“So hopefully we can get him up for the [return] New Zealand series and the World T20 where he’s ranked number one in the world.
“He’ll be very important for us in both series so we’ll look forward to getting him back.”
Victorian James Pattinson, who was 12th man for the Adelaide Test, is certain to be recalled to the squad for the first Test against the Windies starting in Hobart on December 10.
“He was pretty close to playing here I would have thought, so with him back we have got our three quicks and obviously Mitch Marsh,” McDermott said.
“After that, we have got Nathan Coulter-Nile. If he can keep his tongue wired it would be great and we’d be able to get him involved at some stage if he bowls well enough.
“But certainly we wouldn’t want too many more injuries because then we get down past the blokes who are bowling 140 (km/h) plus and that is the way in which we like to put our bowling attack together for the first three bowlers.”