‘Finding the right balance’ an issue for NCN

Cricket365
November 6, 2016

Australia fast bowler Nathan Coulter-Nile has admitted that his hopes of returning to the Test side are ‘fading’, and that pacemen are struggling to find the right balance in terms of workload.

Coulter-Nile has been out for months with a back injury, one of a long line of injury problems that has seen other bowlers overtake him in the pecking order.

With the likes of Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood leading the Test attack, NCN feels that while he still has a shot, it’s not as good as it was.

Coulter-Nile told Fox Sports News 500 of his Test hopes: “It’s fading but it’s still there.

“I’ve got such a long way to go now, especially with all these other young quicks coming through it’s going to be hard work.

“It’s what we’re in the game for, to try prove ourselves against the best.

“It’s really frustrating,” he added of his most recent lay-off, a lower back stress fracture.

“This one’s probably the most frustrating one, stress fractures, six months. It’s been a lot of couch time. It’s pretty disappointing.”

He then added of Starc, who only just came back into the side after a shin injury, warning that players have not found the right balance of rest and play.

Coulter-Nile said of Starc: “He’ll be better off for it (the injury break) but I’m not sure how he is going to go backing up Test to Test.

“He may have to miss one or hopefully get a lighter workload for the next one so he can back up for the third.

“The medical staff are there for a reason and they make these decisions. I always feel better when I bowl more. But if you get too much then you start to break down and stuff like that.

“There is definitely a balance, but finding the right balance at the moment is proving to be an issue.”