Australia's Coulter-Nile faces 'lengthy' recovery after back injury

Australia fast bowler Nathan Coulter-Nile has been diagnosed with a bone stress injury in his lower back and will require a "lengthy rehabilitation period", the country's cricket board said on Monday.

The 28-year-old paceman was sent back from Sri Lanka due to a lower back injury, ruling him out of part of the One-Day International series and the two Twenty20 matches.

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

"He will now enter a lengthy rehabilitation period with his return to play will be determined in due course."

After their tour of Sri Lanka, Australia travel to South Africa for a limited-overs series before they host the Proteas at the start of a packed home schedule.

Image: Nathan Coulter-Nile of Australia looks on 

Photograph: Ryan Pierse/Getty Images