Young guns on the mend

Two of Australia’s future stars are on the mend following tournament ending injuries in the Indian Premier League.

Nic Maddinson and Nathan Coulter-Nile left the IPL in the United Arab Emirates leg of the competition.

Maddinson broke his finger training for the Royal Challengers Bangalore, but the 22-year-old left-hander says it’s improving.

“It’s coming along nicely. It’s been about five or six weeks now, so not long to go,” Maddinson told the NSW Blues website.

Despite missing most of the tournament, Maddinson says he enjoyed his time with Bangalore and had no hesitation in nominating the team-mate who impressed him most.

“AB de Villiers – just the range of shots he has and, even in the few trial games we played, just to watch him in action was something special,” he said.

“The Dubai leg (to begin the tournament) was quite chilled out actually and I really loved the two or three weeks I was there.”

As for Coulter-Nile, the fast bowler is set to join the National Performance Squad at the National Cricket Centre in Brisbane early next month to continue his rehab.

“Coults is progressing well,” said WACA media manager Glen Foreman. “He’s still in rehab, but the latter stages of rehab and will head to next week’s camp for CA contracted players.”