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I'm not the next quick in line: Coulter-Nile

Western Australia quick impressed on Shield return with hauls of runs and wickets but doesn't expect to be in the frame for first Test

Nathan Coulter-Nile doesn't expect to be bowling or even mixing drinks for Australia during the Magellan Ashes opener in Brisbane, conceding Jackson Bird is above him on the national pace pecking order.

Coulter-Nile's career was almost ruined by shoulder and hamstring injuries in recent years but he's now found form and fitness.

The right-armer impressed during Australia's recent limited-overs tour of India, claiming his first international wicket in almost 450 days and getting through the tour unscathed ahead of the domestic summer.

The right-armer then dominated Tasmania with bat and ball during Western Australia's JLT Sheffield Shield opener last week, snaring four wickets and scoring a total of almost 100 runs.

All WA players will have a golden chance to impress national skipper Steve Smith ahead of the Ashes in their Shield match against a Test-quality NSW side that starts in Sydney on Saturday.

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But the 30-year-old isn't expecting a call-up from national selectors for the start of the five-Test series against England, which starts at the Gabba on November 23.

"Absolutely not, unless something drastic happens to the three big quicks," Coulter-Nile told reporters in Perth, referring to pace trio Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins.

"Also Birdy (Jackson Bird). We saw Birdy bowl out here (during the Shield opener) and he was unbelievable.

"I hadn't seen him bowl in a while, he was difficult to face all game.

"Those four have probably got the first crack at it.

"But five Tests in a row is hard work, so hopefully I can be there or there abouts when the time comes."

Australia won all five of the Tests in which Bird played in 2016 and the right-armer has been a non-playing member of Test tours to Sri Lanka, India and Bangladesh in the past 18 months.

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Coulter-Nile levelled immense praise on the 'big three' quicks, who are near certain selectors for the start of the Ashes unless injury intervenes.

"If these guys can play a good body of cricket together I think they will go down as one of the best of all time," he said.

Coulter-Nile admitted his history of injury trouble is always at the back of his mind, but added he's felt fit as a fiddle since returning from India.

"I don't think I've got through five one-dayers in a row on an Australian tour like that since – well, ever," he said.

"My body's in a great place, so it should be after two years of rehab.

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"I haven’t played a Shield game in two and a half years, so my goal was to get through the first one, see how I pulled up, cause they're quite close together the first couple, then if I have to rest one of them I will and then be ready to go again for the third one," Coulter-Nile told cricket.com.au recently.

And while the 30-year-old has been battling injuries that have kept the ball out of his hand, a bonus has been improvement with the bat, evidenced by scores of 42 and 52 against Tasmania.

"Obviously it was a long time out and not bowling, and I had to do something," Coulter-Nile said.

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"I was still getting paid to play cricket so I had to try and work on something, so I've been working on my batting a fair bit, and it was nice to get some reward for it.

"I don't think I'm getting picked as an allrounder, but definitely if you can bat a little bit it helps.

"We saw Bird miss selection last year because he apparently wasn't a good enough batter so if they can't hold that over you that's a good thing."

2017-18 International Fixtures

Magellan Ashes Series

First Test Gabba, November 23-27. Buy tickets

Second Test Adelaide Oval, December 2-6 (Day-Night). Buy tickets

Third Test WACA Ground, December 14-18. Buy tickets

Fourth Test MCG, December 26-30. Buy tickets

Fifth Test SCG, January 4-8 (Pink Test). Buy tickets

ODI Series v England

First ODI MCG, January 14. Buy tickets

Second ODI Gabba, January 19. Buy tickets

Third ODI SCG, January 21. Buy tickets

Fourth ODI Adelaide Oval, January 26. Buy tickets

Fifth ODI Perth TBC, January 28. Join the ACF

Prime Minister's XI

PM's XI v England Manuka Oval, February 2. Buy tickets

T20 trans-Tasman Tri-Series

First T20I Australia v NZ, SCG, February 3. Buy tickets

Second T20I – Australia v England, Blundstone Arena, February 7. Buy tickets

Third T20I – Australia v England, MCG, February 10. Buy tickets

Fourth T20I – NZ v England, Wellington, February 14

Fifth T20I – NZ v Australia, Eden Park, February 16

Sixth T20I – NZ v England, Seddon Park, February 18

Final – TBC, Eden Park, February 21