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'Mixed messages' over NCN's ODI axing

Fast bowler unhappy with 'poor communication' after he was left out of Australia's one-day squad to play India

Perth Scorchers quick Nathan Coulter-Nile says he was surprised to hear the reason for his exclusion from Australia’s ODI squad was due to concerns over his back.

In announcing a 14-man squad on Friday to take on India, selector Trevor Hohns said Coulter-Nile’s absence was due to some “lower back soreness” that meant selectors “weren’t prepared to risk” the right-armer for the three-game series.

“Nathan Coulter-Nile recently experienced some lower back soreness, and on the advice of our medical staff we weren't prepared to risk selecting Nathan in the side given the demands of the upcoming ODI series," Hohns said in a statement

But the 31-year-old – who was cleared to continue playing for the Scorchers in the KFC BBL where he can bowl a maximum of four overs - has expressed his confusion over the call, explaining he hadn’t been for a scan before the squad was selected.

“I didn’t take (the news) the best, to be honest,” Coulter-Nile told ABC Radio.

“I think it was communicated to me really poorly.

“I won’t go into it, but I don’t think soreness is really any excuse for not playing cricket.

“In fairness, I hadn’t had a (back) scan yet. I had had back soreness and back history, but I hadn’t had a scan to see what was wrong. I had one when I got home and it was all clear.”

The Scorchers right-armer responded to his omission by returning figures of 3-25 from his four overs against Brisbane Heat on Saturday night, which included 10 dot balls.

The right-armer has eight wickets at an economy rate of 7.13 in six BBL games this season having been hammered for 40 runs from three wicketless overs in the recent T20 series against India. He also took 2-19 from two overs in the one-off T20 against the Proteas and 1-26 from three overs in his only ODI against South Africa at the start of the summer.

Mujeeb, Cutting lead Heat to win

Speaking after Perth’s loss to the Heat, the injury-prone quick said he was none the wiser on the selection situation.

“I can’t clarify,” he said.

“They picked the team before I had a scan to know what was wrong with my back, that’s just when the team was picked to come out.

“I was getting some mixed messages about what was happening – that’s just the way it is.

“I have no issue with being dropped, I just like to get a clear message about why - I was told it was because I had a sore back.

“I presume they’re in contact with Jonesy (WACA Head Physiotherapist Nick Jones) and the support staff, I’m very open.

“JL (Australian coach Justin Langer) asked me when they were selecting the team, I said I have a sore back, but I haven’t had a scan yet.

“With my history, it was just better off to check it.”

The express paceman believes there’s a missing link in the chain between selectors getting their messages across to some players.

“I think communication used to be a little bit better – from everyone,” he said.

Coulter-Nile has had a horror run with injury during his career, the most recent being a serious back problem that all but ruled him out of the entire 2017-18 season.

The right-armer has expressed a desire to win back his ODI spot before Australia’s World Cup defence this year, the showpiece event scheduled after this year’s Indian Premier League, where Coulter-Nile has been picked up by Royal Challengers Bangalore.

The ODI side will assemble in Sydney on Tuesday ahead of the first match on Saturday, while Coulter-Nile will travel with the Scorchers to Melbourne for their next clash against the Melbourne Stars on Wednesday. 

Gillette ODI Series v India

Australia ODI squad: Aaron Finch (c), Jason Behrendorff, Alex Carey (wk), Peter Handscomb, Usman Khawaja, Nathan Lyon, Mitch Marsh, Shaun Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Jhye Richardson, Peter Siddle, Billy Stanlake, Marcus Stoinis, Adam Zampa

India ODI squad: Virat Kohli (c), Rohit Sharma (vc), KL Rahul, Shikhar Dhawan, Ambati Rayudu, Dinesh Karthik, Kedar Jadhav, MS Dhoni (wk), Hardik Pandya, Kuldeep Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal, Ravindra Jadeja, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Jasprit Bumrah, Khaleel Ahmed, Mohammed Shami

First ODI: January 12, SCG (D/N)

Second ODI: January 15, Adelaide Oval (D/N)

Third ODI: January 18, MCG (D/N)