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.
Don Freo
Guest
Why an audition for support cast when a lead player is available?
Don Freo
Guest
Was that worth the effort of resubmission, Murry?
jammel
Guest
Can't see that happening John - I think Patto will play, but Siddle is a certainty!
John
Guest
Siddle was a bit underwhelming in the Adelaide test and I'm not sure he is in the best 3 fast bowlers for Australia anymore. Has been a real warrior for Australia but feel his time might have come. Have a sneaking suspicion that both Pattinson and Coulter-Nile might play in hobart with Siddle being dropped and Starc injured.
VivGilchrist
Guest
Could've used Bird and Sayers as an audition for the NZ series.
Shaw
Roar Rookie
*edited and resubmitted* Sadly, due to the opposition they could have selected my nanna without losing sleep about the potency of our bowling attack. I think the selectors have seriously overestimated the quality of scones and cardigans NCN can produce; a critical misjudgement, compromising their choice of bowler. Cardies and a decent Devonshire tea are essential in Hobart especially against the windies.. Siddle's vegan cheesecake leaves a lot to be desired
Shaw
Roar Rookie
Tough call my buttocks! Sadly, due to the opposition they could have selected my nanna without losing sleep about compromising certain victory. I think the selectors have failed to take into account the quality of scones and cardigans NCN can produce in their choice of bowler. Both are essential in Hobart.
Chris Kettlewell
Roar Guru
It is a tough call to draft in Coulter-Nile. It's highly unlikely he'll play anyway, the attack will likely be Siddle, Hazlewood, Pattinson. But when the position you are looking to cover is Starc, and the other two quicks in the side are Hazlewood and Siddle, then you don't really want a Jackson Bird type bowler to fill that spot. Unfortunately, so many of the out and out quicks in the country at the moment are either injured or just coming back from injuries. So we find ourselves with an injured quick getting replaced by one possibly too green yet on his return from injury. If it was Siddle or Hazlewood who was injured it would be a more straightforward call to bring in someone like Jackson Bird, but it's not.