Some stellar performances during last year’s IPL appear to have earned game-shy quick Nathan Coulter-Nile a surprise Australian call-up for the Twenty20 World Cup in India next month.
Coulter-Nile has played just one match across all formats in the last three months – a BBL clash for the Perth Scorchers against the Adelaide Strikers in December, with shoulder problems curtailing much of his season.
But with 11 T20 internationals under his belt and a return of 15 wickets at 21.4 for the Mumbai Indians during the 2015 IPL, the paceman is seen as a worthwhile gamble on the slower sub-continent decks.
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He’s now expected to have to prove his fitness in two weeks of grade cricket and a Sheffield Shield match for WA against Queensland starting February 25 before joining the 15-man Australian squad.
“Obviously it was a surprise not having played a lot of cricket this year. But it’s a bit of faith from the selectors that they know I can perform in the T20 format,” Coulter-Nile said.
“You never like to miss cricket but I’ve played a little bit now of T20 and they are going on past experiences and performances. Straight away they were pretty keen for me to get up and play quickly.
“There were no promises made but they said the quicker I can get back to fitness the quicker I can get back playing cricket. I’m pretty happy for the opportunity and hopefully I can get right for it.”
Coulter-Nile’s teammate Shaun Marsh missed out on a spot in the Australian squad but allrounder Ashton Agar was another West Australian to get a surprise call-up.
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