Australian fast bowler Nathan Coulter-Nile has accepted that his chances of representing Australia in a Test match are slowly fading after his latest injury setback.
The 29-year-old quick was sent home in the middle of the Australian tour to Sri Lanka, due to a lower back problem, but a further diagnosis has revealed that Coulter-Nile has a lumbar bone stress injury, which is likely to keep him out for a considerable amount of time.
Speaking to Fox Sports News 500, about his chances of making it into the Aussie Test squad, the fast bowler from Perth said, “It’s fading, but it’s still there.”
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“I’ve got such a long way to go now, especially with all these other young quicks coming through it’s going to be hard work. It’s what we’re in the game for, to try and prove ourselves against the best.”
The paceman has had his fair share of injuries in the past, with a dislocated shoulder keeping him out of action the last summer and hamstring troubles ruling him out of selection in 2015.
Most frustrating injury to take, says Coulter-Nile
He said the latest injury was the hardest to take in for him, as it came just after he had impressed everyone with some good performances for Australia in the World T20 2016 in India and in the ODI tri-series against the West Indies and South Africa.
“It’s really frustrating,” he said. “This one’s probably the most frustrating one, stress fractures, six months. It’s been a lot of couch time. It’s pretty disappointing.”
Views on the two Mitchells
Coulter-Nile also discussed the heavy workload on Australia’s spearhead Mitchell Starc and gave his inputs as to how Starc needed to be used through the summer.
“He’ll be better off for it but I’m not sure how he is going to go backing up Test to Test, he may have to miss one or hopefully get a lighter workload for the next one so he can back up for the third,” he said speaking of the long spells Starc bowled in the Perth Test.
He further added, “The medical staff are there for a reason and they make these decisions. I always feel better when I bowl more. But if you get too much then you start to break down and stuff like that. There is definitely a balance, but finding the right balance at the moment is proving to be an issue.”
Coulter-Nile also discussed the performances of the under-pressure all-rounder Mitchell Marsh saying, “He doesn’t need my advice,” adding, “He’s relaxed and is the type of character where that wouldn’t faze him. He’s bowling really well and hopefully he can get a score under his belt. Once he gets the 100 under his belt like he did in the one-dayers, he will just get better and better.”
Nathan Coulter-Nile has played 16 ODIs and 17 T20 Internationals for the Aussies but is yet to make his debut in the longest format of the game.
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