NCN called up, Boland on standby

Uncapped fast bowler Nathan Coulter-Nile has been called into Australia's Test squad as a replacement for Mitchell Starc in the opening match of the Commonwealth Bank Test Series against the West Indies.

The national selectors have also placed Victoria's Scott Boland on standby should any of the incumbent quicks succumb to the recent run of injuries that have tested the depth of fast bowling stocks around the nation.

WATCH: Scott Boland rips through WA in Perth

Coulter-Nile, who has himself battled a run of serious hamstring injuries in recent years, was part of Australia's ODI squad in the series that followed this year's Ashes Tests in the UK but has not played a first-class match for Western Australia since last summer.

The 28-year-old was due to return to Sheffield Shield ranks in the Alcohol. Think Again Warriors match against Victoria that started last Friday but was ruled out when he was suspended for disputing an umpire's decision during a preceding Toyota Futures League fixture.

Coulter-Nile’s pace – fitting the criterion of coach Darren Lehmann and others in the Australia set-up that Test bowlers be able to regularly operate around 140km/h – has earned Coulter-Nile the call-up despite his lack of recent red-ball form.  

"With the exception of a forced change through the injury to Mitchell Starc we have decided to keep an unchanged squad following a successful series win against a strong New Zealand side," selection panel chair Rod Marsh said in announcing the 12-man squad today.

"In an ideal world we would have liked Nathan Coulter-Nile to have played some more Sheffield Shield cricket 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."

It is unlikely Coulter-Nile will come in the Australia XI for the first Commonwealth Bank Test against the West Indies starting in Hobart next week given that Victoria paceman James Pattinson has also been retained in the 12-man squad and is expected to replace Starc.

Starc suffered a stress fracture to his right foot during the recent day-night Test against the Black Caps in Adelaide and will be sidelined until at least the new year.

Ryan Harris exclusive: Silver lining to Starc's injury

But with Josh Hazlewood carrying a heavy workload from earlier in the current summer and Peter Siddle suffering from back sorenesswhich troubled him during the recent Adelaide Test against NZ (but did not prevent him from bowling), Boland has been named as a potential replacement.

The 26-year-old has played 26 matches for Victoria since making his Sheffield Shield debut in 2011 and starred in the Commonwealth Bank Bushrangers thumping win over WA in Perth last weekend, taking 7-31 in the second innings.

Image Id: ~/media/1579EEB7CBE84C25BEAC00C54B59FCD4

Scott Boland took seven wickets in Victoria's win over WA // Getty

Cricket Australia has confirmed he will be available to play for Victoria in the Sheffield Shield match against South Australia starting on Sunday – five days before the Hobart Test – unless doubt remains over the fast bowlers in the Test squad

"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," Marsh said in relation to Boland’s stand-by status.

"Scott presents as a good option if the situation with any of our fast-bowlers change. 

"He’s bowling very well at the moment and is not far off selection. 

"His seven-wicket haul against Western Australia showed just what he can do at an elite level."

AUSTRALIA'S TEST SQUAD
Steve Smith (c), David Warner (vc), Joe Burns, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Josh Hazlewood, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Marsh, Shaun Marsh, Peter Nevill, James Pattinson, Peter Siddle, Adam Voges