This IPL season will hold me in good stead: Nathan Coulter-Nile

How has the learning experience been playing in the IPL? How do you think bowling in Indian conditions help your game?
Yes, IPL is definitely making me a better bowler. Getting more experience in these conditions will hold me in good stead, especially with what's coming up in the future here, the World T20 being held here and a couple of tours here. So hopefully, this IPL season will hold me in good stead and obviously learning from guys like Zak (Zaheer Khan) has been fantastic and hopefully, a few of the things he said can sink in and I can become a better bowler through that.

With a long queue of fast bowlers in Australia, you must be happy getting game-time here so you remain in action?
I have been playing cricket back home, it is not like I have not been playing cricket. In that regard, it is good to keep playing cricket, I guess. Am still practicing and getting better. It will be nice to have a little break after this. Am looking forward to a month off and then straight back into it.

In the limited opportunities you have got to represent Australia, were you pleased with the way things went?
I am always pleased getting a game for my country. I'd like to have secured my spot a little better than I have and I let myself down with a couple of bad performances. I can only hope that I can get better and improve, and hopefully get another crack. Like I said, I am a better bowler now. Hopefully I get another chance, I can assure that.

What should you be doing to break into the Australian frontline attack?
There is nothing you can do. You just try and improve and make sure you are fit when the opportunity comes. And when it really comes, you try and take it as best at you can.

Josh Hazlewood came and performed in his Test debut and has now become a sure selection for Australia. You came into the scene before him. How tough is the competition among fast bowlers?
Obviously, it is tough, you have 10 people vying for 3-4 positions. There is always competition and it is healthy. It makes everyone push himself harder. We all get on pretty well. There is no animosity there. We push ourselves to be the best and make Australia one of the top countries.

Does that put pressure on you to be on top of your game consistently?
Yes, definitely. That is a good thing. You want pressure, you want people to push you to be the best, otherwise you are absolutely a little bit lazy. Always having that external pressure is good for you, I think.

When do you see yourself playing Test cricket? You must be disappointed at not being in the flight to the West Indies or the Ashes...
Not disappointed. Test cricket is still the aim. Probably, I have got a year to get there, do the best I can to get there and see what happens. As it is for everyone else, always disappointed at not being picked.

Is there a fear that you may be labelled as a limited-overs player?
I would be glad to be labelled a limited-overs specialist if they want. I am happy to play whatever role they want. It is a privilege to play for your country in any form, whether it is T20, ODI or Test cricket, I will be more than happy to do that.

Can a bowler be content at just being a limited-overs specialist? Do the skills required vary for a first-class game and the limited-overs? Which of them can be difficult to bowl in?
Skills definitely vary. One is a war of attrition and the other is a bag of tricks. It is different skill sets. If you are good at one, you are usually good at the other. Test cricket is a test of the body and the mind. It is as hard as it gets. Test is the ultimate but T20 is also a lot of pressure. I have never played Test cricket, so I would not know. But internationally, one day and T20 is tough. First-class cricket is also a challenge for different reasons on the body and stuff like that.

You have TA Sekar as mentor of DD. Coming from Perth, you would have picked the brains of Dennis Lillee. What are the lessons learnt?
TA Sekar is good. He came to me after a couple of games and noticed my technique that was not quite right. He was spot on and that is something that I needed. Changed a little bit and next game I got 4/20 against the Kings XI Punjab. So, I have picking up things little things like that. He has been fantastic.

How much do you stress on pace? Is pace the ultimate for a young bowler like you?
It is good if you are bowling quick, makes it harder for the batsman. If you are moving the ball, if you are moving the seam or swinging, it makes it harder (for the batsman). Ideally, I would like to get that wrist right. Also, you have got to be bowling at 140-plus, otherwise the batsmen will just sway it on you.

How demoralising can it get when the team you are in are lagging in the bottom half of the IPL and in which you are among the few consistent performers? You were in DD team that finished last in 2014 and second last this year.
That's improvement. We could have easily had eight wins on the board. So, next time we come back and win those close games. It is a good sign that we are in those games, it is disappointing that we are losing. Just a little tweak here and there and winning those games and we would have been second on the ladder with nine wins.

You played just one match for Mumbai Indians in 2013 IPL. What were the lessons learnt from the likes of John Wright, Ricky Ponting, Sachin Tendulkar, Anil Kumble and others in the MI squad then?
That was good. That was a different experience. That was a different part of my career. I had not played any international cricket then. That was a real good learning experience for me. This year's been probably one of my better years, I got to play most of the games, I really enjoyed my time and it seemed to go a little quicker be cause I was out there playing, not carrying drinks.
guru.krishnan@dnaindia.net; @GKspts on Twitter

Know Nathan
Full name: Nathan Mitchell Coulter-Nile
Date of birth: October 11, 1987
Team: Australia
Played: 10 ODIs and 10 T20s

Coulter-Nile this IPL

M Wkts BBI Ave Econ
11 15 4/20 21.40 7.55