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Australia Test squad for West Indies series announced; Nathan Coulter-Nile called up

Nathan Coulter-Nile has been called up as replacement for the injured Mitchell Starc.

Australia's squad remains almost identical to the one that was in against New Zealand with the exception of Nathan Coulter-Nile's inclusion © Getty Images
Australia’s squad remains almost identical to the one that was in against New Zealand with the exception of Nathan Coulter-Nile’s (not in picture) inclusion © Getty Images

Adelaide: Paceman Nathan Coulter-Nile is in line to make his Test debut after being named Tuesday in Australia’s squad for the opening clash against the West Indies in Hobart next week. Coulter-Nile and fellow quick James Pattinson were both included in a 12-man squad for the first Test, which gets under way at Blundstone Arena on December 10. The Australian selectors also named Scott Boland on standby in case any of the four fast bowlers are not fit. National selectors will be forced to make at least one change to the starting XI, with pace spearhead Mitchell Starc out injured. ALSO READ: Mitchell Starc unsure about when he will be able to make comeback

However, with Peter Siddle having back trouble during Australia’s three-wicket win over New Zealand in Adelaide on Sunday and team management speaking about managing Josh Hazlewood‘s workload, there could be more. ALSO READ: Australia vs West Indies 2015-16: Jason Holder insists visitors need to play aggressive

“Hopefully all the bowlers from the Adelaide Test recover well over the next few days but we are mindful our fast bowlers have had a heavy workload over this series,” chairman of selectors Rod Marsh said. Coulter-Nile, who has played 13 one-dayers and 11 Twenty20s for Australia, only recently started bowling following a shoulder injury. ALSO READ: Mitchell Starc not to undergo ankle surgery before ICC World T20 2016

He should have bowled for Western Australia last weekend but was given a one-match ban for showing dissent at an umpire’s decision in the domestic second XI league, meaning he has not played first-class cricket since the Sheffield Shield final in March.

“In an ideal world we would have liked Nathan Coulter-Nile to have played some more Sheffield Shield cricket,” Marsh said. “But he has been a proven performer for Australia in short-format cricket and has very good pace. We think he is ready to compete at Test level if required.”

Fellow quick Pat Cummins remains sidelined with a serious back injury, while Mitchell Johnson’s retirement has further stretched Australia’s fast bowling resources.

Australia squad: David Warner, Joe Burns, Steven Smith (c), Adam Voges, Shaun Marsh, Mitchell Marsh, Peter Nevill (wk), Peter Siddle, Josh Hazlewood, James Pattinson, Nathan Lyon, Nathan Coulter-Nile.

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