Nathan Coulter-Nile relishing Chris Gayle duel

Australia face the West Indies in their second World Cup game on Thursday after both sides recorded comfortable victories in their opening games

Australia fast bowler Nathan Coulter-Nile has said he is looking forward to facing West Indies and the prospect of bowling to opener Chris Gayle.

The defending champions will face the World T20 holders at Trent Bridge on Thursday, after both sides won comfortably in their opening games of the World Cup.

Aaron Finch’s side enjoyed a convincing seven-wicket win over Afghanistan in Bristol on Saturday, and Coulter-Nile wasted no time in declaring his excitement at a potential spell at the Jamaican.

"Oh Starcy (Mitchell Starc) will knock his off pole out," Coulter-Nile joked of the 39-year-old Gayle. "It will be easy.

"You know he's going to hit your good balls for four and hit your bad balls for six. Just keep as bowling as many good balls as you can we'll stick a few up him.

^{Australia beat Afghanistan by seven wickets at Bristol}

"I think you just need to be aggressive at him. He's still smacking them but he is getting older. I don't know if he's faced too much of Starcy and Paddy (Pat Cummins) recently but they're bowling quick. So we'll see how he handles that early."

Coulter-Nile’s selection was not ceetain given Australia’s plethora of oprions in the pace department, but having made the most of the opportunity, the 31-year-old is relishing the chance to back up Starc and Cummins on more occasions in this tournament.

"Luckily I got the nod, we're pretty lucky that we've got three pretty good bowlers sitting on the sideline," he added. "I think it's good, it's good to have competition for your spot. Especially with the guys sitting on the bench.

"If they take early wickets my job is just to keep going, bowling second is a real advantage to me, I know I’m either defending or attacking. They set the tone and I just come on and try and follow them."

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