Australia sends express quick Nathan Coulter-Nile to terrorise England on bouncy WACA deck
FOUR years ago Mitchell Johnson turned England’s Ashes tour in to a living hell. Now Australia will send another 150km/h quick to open those same wounds.
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AUSTRALIA has sent in a hired hitman to open up the scars of an already injury-ravaged England at the WACA, weeks before the first Test even begins.
On a dramatic day for the tourists, star spinner and lower-order match-winner Moeen Ali as well as back-up paceman Steve Finn were sent for urgent scans and are in doubt for the start of the Ashes.
Meanwhile, England coach Trevor Bayliss has conceded he has virtually written off any chance that controversial all-rounder Ben Stokes will play any part in the summer, saying that if the superstar caught up in assault allegations turns up it would be a “bonus”.
Four years ago Mitchell Johnson destroyed England’s psyche at the Gabba, but this time around Australia’s frontline bowling attack are backing fresh reserve Nathan Coulter-Nile to kickstart the mental disintegration in a tour game this weekend in Perth.
Coulter-Nile, capable of matching the rapid 150km/h speeds of Johnson, shapes as next cab off the rank for Australian selection this summer should injury befell Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood or Mitchell Starc, and he is being given an early shot at England after being rested from Western Australia’s clash with NSW.
Giving their Ashes opponents a look at one of their prime fast bowlers is far from an ideal scenario for Australia, however, medical staff face a delicate balance in fine-tuning Coulter-Nile’s fitness given he has not played back-to-back Sheffield Shield matches in close to three seasons.
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Captaining the invitational WA XI team to face England is a way of managing Coulter-Nile’s workload, while still ensuring he’s playing high-quality cricket.
Rather than focus on the risk that facing Coulter-Nile at the WACA could harden England’s defences for the Ashes, Australian spearhead Josh Hazlewood believes his fellow right-armer can set the cat amongst the pigeons for Joe Root’s men right from the get-go.
“I see it more as a positive. Maybe he can crack open a few guys early and create a few scars in their top order and middle order maybe,” said Hazlewood.
“It’s a bit disappointing he’s not playing in the Shield game against us but he’s obviously had trouble with his injuries in the past few years so they’re easing him back into it.
“For their top order, it would be their first real hit-out in Australia and to have a guy like Coults there to warm them up and maybe create a few scars would be nice.
“Obviously their plan (is) to jump straight into it on the bounciest and quickest wicket and get used to the conditions that way.
“Hopefully Coults (can negate that) and crack a few open.”
But England have other worries – with their other lethal all-rounder, other than Stokes, Moeen Ali under an injury cloud.
Ali has a side strain and will miss England’s tour-opening two-day match against Coulter-Nile’s WA XI starting Saturday, while Finn has suffered a knock to the knee.
To compound that uncertainty, coach Bayliss has all but given up on Stokes making it to Australia, even though police are yet to lay charges over a nightclub brawl.
“I have,” said Bayliss.
“If he turns up it’s an absolute bonus … (I) haven’t got a clue. It’s totally out of our hands. We have just got on with preparing as best we can.”
James Pattinson’s summer-ending injury raised doubts about Australia’s fast bowling depth, but dominant performances from Coulter-Nile and Tasmanian Jackson Bird in the opening round of the Sheffield Shield have bolstered confidence that there is plenty of Test-standard back-up in reserve.
Coulter-Nile was outstanding in the recent one-day series in India, while another potential option Jason Behrendorff makes his return for Western Australia this Shield round as well – as a dangerous left-armer who can swing the ball at good pace.
WA coach Justin Langer admits he has concerns about England getting their eye in against a bowler of Coulter-Nile’s class.
“For Nathan, my preference would be that he doesn’t play against England, to be completely frank,” Langer said.
“Because why would we give England a look at him?
“That being said, you can have the psychological advantage the other way as well - if he bowls really well, bowls fast and gets some wickets.
“I hope he makes the most of the opportunity - gets a few early scars on the English batsmen if he can - I mean the psychological scars of getting a few wickets.”
Originally published as Australia sends express quick Nathan Coulter-Nile to terrorise England on bouncy WACA deck
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