Nathan Coulter-Nile replaces injured Mitchell Starc in Australia squad for West Indies Test

Mitchell Starc will miss the three-Test series because of the stress fracture in his right foot. (Source: Reuters)

Pace bowler Nathan Coulter-Nile has been called into the Australia squad to replace the injured Mitchell Starc for the first Test against the West Indies starting Dec. 10.

Starc will miss the three-Test series because of the stress fracture in his right foot he sustained on the first day of the first day-night cricket Test in Adelaide last Friday. Australia won the Test to clinch a 2-0 series win against New Zealand.

Josh Hazlewood led the attack after Starc’s injury, picking up 6-70 in the second innings and propelling Australia to a three-wicket win in Adelaide. It is likely James Pattinson, who missed selection in the starting XI last week when selectors preferred to recall Peter Siddle, will go into the starting lineup in a straight swap for Starc.

“With the exception of a forced change through the injury, we have decided to keep an unchanged squad following a successful series win against a strong New Zealand side,” chief selector Rod Marsh said. “Nathan Coulter-Nile … 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.”

Australia will open the series against the West Indies in Hobart, before playing the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne and the New Year Test in Sydney.

Squad: Steve Smith (captain), David Warner, Joe Burns, Adam Voges, Shaun Marsh, Peter Nevill, Mitch Marsh, Peter Siddle, James Pattinson, Josh Hazlewood, Nathan Lyon, Nathan Coulter-Nile