Mumbai: Australian batsman Shaun Marsh and fast bowler Nathan Coulter-Nile have been ruled out of SL tour with finger and back injury respectively. Coulter-Nile injured his back and faces a ‘lengthy rehabilitation’. He was part of the one day squad and was back up to Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood.
Australia’s team physiotherapist David Beakley said that bowler’s latest injury was serious and decision will be taken in due course’s time.
Beakley said, “Nathan underwent an MRI scan which has unfortunately revealed a lumbar bone stress injury in his lower back.”
Shaun Marsh suffered injury during practice session and fractured his little finger. Marsh recently made a comeback to the Test side and scored a hundred. He replaced Steven Smith, captain, who was given rest and flew back to Australia after second one day international (ODI).
“Shaun suffered an injury to his left little finger whilst fielding,” physiotherapist David Beakley said after Australia took a 2-1 lead in the five-match ODI series on Sunday.
“An X-ray after the match confirmed a fracture and Shaun will now return to Perth to allow time for this to heal.”
Coulter-Nile’s career has been affected by injuries and that has cost him to play regularly. He was supposed to make his Test debut against Windies during Boxing Day Test match last summer. When in full flow he is a treat to watch and hurries batsman with his pace and bounce. Coulter-Nile has so far played 16 ODIs and injuries to his shoulder and hamstring have troubled him and kept him out of the game. He played during WT20 and Caribbean Tri nation series.
Marsh will be frustrated to miss matches as he was in good form and would have liked to continue the momentum by scoring runs and cementing his place.
Usman Khawaja will replace Marsh in the fourth ODI. Australia is leading the series 2-1 with two matches to play. They suffered whitewash during the Test series and would like to prove a point by winning limited overs series and answering their critics in style.