Cricket Australia is unapologetic about its decision to keep on Nathan Coulter-Nile as a non-playing member of its Test squad, to avoid again having to call on the team masseur to wear the whites.
Having not played first-class cricket since March, the West Australian fast bowler's selection raised questions over his preparedness for an international call-up.
And since he's been in Hobart training with the squad ahead of the Test opener against the West Indies, he's missed another red-ball match as WA beat Tasmania at the WACA.
As Coulter-Nile was named 12th man and carried the drinks at Bellerive Oval on Thursday, general manager of team performance Pat Howard said his presence was important.
During Australia's Test match against New Zealand in Adelaide, the hosts had to bring on masseur Grant Baldwin, after then-12th man James Pattinson was released to return to Sheffield Shield duties interstate.
"We got caught out with the 12th man in Adelaide which was talked about significantly so Nathan's here, we're not going to apologise for having 12 very good players here and if we need a man to be a 12th man so be it," Howard told Fox Sports.
