Australian all-rounder Nathan Coulter-Nile has learnt to keep his mouth shut in the wake of his recent suspension, saying he's thankful the experience didn't kill off his chances of making a dream Test debut against the West Indies.
Coulter-Nile was a shock inclusion in Australia's 12-man Test squad on Tuesday for the first Test against the West Indies in Hobart, starting December 10.
The 28-year-old hasn't played a single Sheffield Shield game this season.
A shoulder injury kept Coulter-Nile out of the early Shield rounds, and his plans to return for last week's loss to Victoria were scuppered when he copped a one-match suspension for showing dissent at an umpire's decision during a Futures League match.
Despite his lack of match practice, selectors have put their faith in Coulter-Nile, with the right-armer set to play in the first Test if either Josh Hazlewood or Peter Siddle (back) are given a rest.
When asked what he learnt from his recent suspension, Coulter-Nile replied: "Just keep my mouth shut, I guess.
"You can't say those sort of things on the field, and you can't act like that.
"It's been an eye-opener missing a game like that.
"It should have hurt my selection chances. I've just been fortunate to get another opportunity."
Coulter-Nile has been beset by hamstring injuries in recent years.
But it was his competitive spirit during a friendly game of touch rugby with his Warriors teammates that led to his shoulder setback.
"I just went to ground with the ball and wrenched the shoulder up a bit more and tore my (muscle)," Coulter-Nile said.
"It was strange. I didn't know I had done it, so I kept training and did all the fielding and bowling and batting.
"After training, I couldn't lift my arm 90 degrees, so that was a bit of a shock. When we got the scans there was a bit tear there.
"I'm the only one that goes that hard (at touch rugby). Everyone else takes it a bit easy. I've got to learn to chill out a bit."
Coulter-Nile said he was quite surprised when told of his Test call-up by national selector Rod Marsh.
But he's adamant he'll be ready to fire if picked to play against the West Indies.
Coulter-Nile snared 3-43 from 18 overs during his recent appearance in a Futures League match.
The West Australian beefed up his workload by bowling six overs just before the match started, and he returned the day after the game to bowl another 10 overs in the nets.
"I'm definitely fit enough," Coulter-Nile said on Tuesday.
Share
