Perth Scorchers have been dealt a blow after confirming both Jason Behrendorff and Nathan Coulter-Nile would miss the remainder of the KFC Big Bash season with back pain.
The Scorchers made the announcement on Wednesday morning, and said the pace duo were both dealing with ongoing back issues.
"Jason has been experiencing lower back pain that relates to an old lumbar stress fracture that flared during the pre-season period and has been managing it through the JLT One Day Cup, International T20 series versus India and the early rounds of the JLT Sheffield Shield," head physiotherapist Nick Jones said.
"Jason's back pain flared again in the first innings of the Round 4 JLT Sheffield Shield match against Queensland.
"Despite not bowling since this flare-up, his pain has not settled sufficiently to be able to return to bowling.
"Jason requires an extended period of rest from bowling to allow this pain to resolve and will not be available for the remainder of the [Big Bash Series] and the T20 series against England and New Zealand later in the summer."
Nathan Coulter-Nile. Photo: Perth Scorchers
The news comes just days after journalist Kim Hagdorn revealed strike bowler Nathan Coulter-Nile would also be ruled out for the remainder of the season.
It is the third bout of nagging back pains for the aggressive speedster in the past four months as he pressed to reassume his playing career.
He has suffered a horrible succession of back, hamstring and shoulder injuries in the past two years after the energetic paceman had secured his status as one of the nation's premier limited-overs bowlers and hard-hitting lower order batsman.
A Scorchers spokesperson said Coulter-Nile was monitored by Cricket Australia and the Western Australian Cricket Association medical staff for the two months following a flare up of a previous back injury.
It is understood Coulter-Nile most recently reported a return of chronic pain in his back after what appeared a successful playing comeback with his WACA club team Subiaco-Floreat on December 23, when he completed four overs and batted for almost an hour untroubled.
Cricket Australia sports science and sports medicine manager Alex Kountouris said medical staff were hoping to Coulter-Nile would improve following an extended rest period.
"We have given Nathan the last few months to see how his early stage stress fracture is professing with the view of trying to play in the BBL," he said.
"Unfortunately, he is still experiencing pain and will need a longer recovery period so [he] will not be available for the remainder of the BBL and the ODI series against England in January."
Heading into One Day International selection, coach Justin Langer reportedly told Mix 94.5 it was likely AJ Tye and Jhye Richardson could be named in the team.
