Bad back to keep Coulter-Nile out

Sydney - Australia pace bowler Nathan Coulter-Nile faces a lengthy spell out of cricket after being diagnosed with a serious back injury, Cricket Australia said on Monday.

Coulter-Nile, 28, was forced home from Australia's one-day series in Sri Lanka last week with the back complaint which has been found to be a bone stress injury that will require a "lengthy rehabilitation period".

"After returning to Australia, Nathan underwent a scan which has unfortunately revealed a lumbar bone stress injury in his lower back," team physiotherapist David Beakley said in a statement.

"He will now enter a lengthy rehabilitation period."

It is yet another significant blow for the injury-prone West Australian fast bowler.

He dislocated his right shoulder when he fell in a domestic Big Bash League Twenty20 match in December, which followed a left shoulder injury during the domestic one-day cup competition just two months before.

Coulter-Nile was also sent home from Australia's tour of England in September last year with a right hamstring injury.