Coulter-Nile predicts selection reshuffle

Paceman Nathan Coulter-Nile believes Australia will reshuffle their attack to include a specialist spinner for Wednesday's opening T20I against India in Brisbane.

After the pitch dictated the hosts' decision to field four quicks in last Saturday night's rain-affected T20I defeat to South Africa on the Gold Coast, Coulter-Nile feels the wide expanses of the Gabba – particularly square of the wicket – will likely push the selectors towards a slow-bowling option.

"I think we'll see a spinner come in," he said. "I'm obviously not a selector but I think a spinner will come in, (with the) big square boundaries.

"I think we went pace heavy (at Metricon) because the wicket looked like it was going to be a bit up and down. I think we'll definitely see a spinner."

Such a scenario would see a straight selection shootout between left-arm orthodox allrounder Ashton Agar and leg-spinner Adam Zampa, neither of whom played against the Proteas.

Agar has played eight of 11 T20Is since Justin Langer has been at the helm, though he has been overlooked for Australia's past two matches in the format.

Zampa played all four matches on the recent tour of the UAE, taking two wickets.

There is a possibility Australia could field a frontline attack made up entirely of Western Australians; in the event that Agar is selected at the expense of Queensland quick Billy Stanlake, the allrounder would join pace trio AJ Tye, Jason Behrendorff and Nathan Coulter-Nile in a four-man Perth Scorchers bowling group.

Throw in Marcus Stoinis, who took three wickets at the Gabba for Melbourne Stars against Brisbane Heat last summer, and the hosts could feasibly use Warriors players to bowl all 20 overs.

The potential addition of a specialist spinner could also be considered a safeguard against the Indian batsmen, who are noted as outstanding players of spin. While the off-spin of Glenn Maxwell – the ICC's top-ranked T20I allrounder – slowed the momentum of South Africa on the Gold Coast, the use of the Victorian might be considered more of a risk against Virat Kohli's side.

Opener Rohit Sharma meanwhile, was more interested in the bounce and pace he expects the Gabba pitch to offer, for reasons both negative and positive.

"It is challenging for all our batsmen but I think most of our guys have come to Australia before, so they understand the conditions," Rohit said today.

"Of course their bowling attack will challenge us as a batting unit in whatever format, but we are prepared for that.

"The reason we came down a few days early was to get used to the bounce. If I'm not mistaken – and I haven't played at the new Perth Stadium – (the Gabba) is the fastest wicket in Australia.

"Whenever we have played here it has always challenged us as a batting unit.

"I've had my good times in Australia playing white-ball cricket. I've always enjoyed coming here – it's a great place to play cricket.

"When you play in play in places like Brisbane and Perth, the good bounce allows me to play my game."

Gillette T20s v India

Gillette T20s v India

November 21: The Gabba

November 23: MCG

November 25: SCG

Australia T20 squad: Aaron Finch (c), Alex Carey, Ashton Agar, Jason Behrendorff, Nathan Coulter-Nile, Chris Lynn, Glenn Maxwell, Ben McDermott, D'Arcy Short, Billy Stanlake, Marcus Stoinis, Andrew Tye, Adam Zampa.

India T20 squad: Virat Kohli (c), Rohit Sharma (vc), Shikhar Dhawan, KL Rahul, Shreyas Iyer, Manish Pandey, Dinesh Karthik, Rishabh Pant (wk), Kuldeep Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal, Washington Sundar, Krunal Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Jasprit Bumrah, Umesh Yadav, Khaleel Ahmed.