Australian coach Darren Lehmann sees “something special” in underdone paceman Nathan Coulter-Nile but concedes drafting him into the Test squad is a tight call.
Coulter-Nile has been summoned to the Australian squad for the first Test against the West Indies starting next Thursday in Hobart despite not playing a four-day game since March.
The move was blasted as “ridiculous” by Victorian coach David Saker and criticised by ex-Test paceman Geoff Lawson, who says the WA speedster isn’t physically ready for a Test match.
Lehmann refused to get drawn into a slanging match with the critics on Thursday but said including Coulter-Nile was a “tough” decision.
“We think he has got something special, his one-day record for us has been exceptional,” Lehmann told reporters in Adelaide.
“It’s a tight call on a whole heap of bowlers around the country but that is the way we have decided to go.”
The Australians have Victorian quick Scott Boland on standby for the Hobart Test but Lehmann dismissed concerns about new pace spearhead Josh Hazlewood carrying too much of a burden in the absence of the retired Mitchell Johnson and the injured Mitchell Starc.
There were suggestions Hazlewood, because of recent heavy workloads, would be rested before the third Test against New Zealand – he played and returned his best Test match figures in a man-of-the-match performance.
Lehmann said Hazlewood would likely play all three Tests against the West Indies before resting at some stage during the following one-day series.
“We’ll just sum that up as we go,” Lehmann said.
“Test cricket, we have always said we are trying to pick the best side day-in, day-out.
“So if we rest him, if we had to do it in the one-dayers that might be a better option for us. But at the moment he’s bowling well so we want to keep playing him.
“There’s a decent break between the first and second Tests so I wouldn’t say there are too many issues there, probably the short turnaround Melbourne-Sydney … but providing they pull up alright, if they’re fit to go, they play.”
Lehmann will get clarity on Starc’s status within days. The left-armer has a fractured right foot and also a long-term ankle complaint that ultimately will need surgery.
Lehmann didn’t expect Starc to tour New Zealand in February but hoped he would feature in the World Twenty20 Cup in India next March.
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