Dubai, Dec.01 : Australia have called up uncapped paceman Nathan Coulter-Nile and James Pattinson in their 12-man squad to bolster their depleted bowling attack for the first Test of the three-match series against West Indies, which begins next week.
Meanwhile, pace spearhead Mitchell Starc was ruled out of the squad due to a stress fracture in his right foot sustained during the third Test against New Zealand in Adelaide.
National Selector Rod Marsh said, “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.
“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.”
The Australian squad for the opening Test on December 10 in Hobart is as follows:
David Warner, Joe Burns, Steve Smith (captain), Adam Voges, Shaun Marsh, Mitch Marsh, Peter Nevill, Peter Siddle, Josh Hazlewood, James Pattinson, Nathan Lyon, Nathan Coulter-Nile.
Earlier this year, Australia won the Frank Worrell Trophy after winning the two-match series against the West Indies in the Caribbean. (ANI)