The Test dreams of Jason Behrendorff and Nathan Coulter-Nile appear over, but Adam Voges predicts a bright future awaits the World Cup duo in the white-ball game.
Coulter-Nile has come close to making his Test debut on several occasions, only for shoulder and back injuries to strike at the wrong moments.
Behrendorff, who once took 9-37 in a Sheffield Shield innings, also appeared destined for stardom on the Test arena before persistent back issues quashed his dreams.
Neither Coulter-Nile or Behrendorff will play Sheffield Shield cricket for WA this summer, with the pair seemingly resigned to focusing on white-ball cricket for the rest of their careers.
The talented WA duo featured for Australia at the recent World Cup, and Voges believes they have plenty more international cricket left in them.
"They've had terrific careers in white-ball cricket, and hopefully that continues for a while longer yet," Voges said.
"It's just unfortunate that their bodies aren't going to allow them to play the longer form of the game."
Behrendorff was recently hit by a minor back niggle, and the 29-year-old will be put through his paces before a decision is made on his availability for WA's one-day clash with Victoria at the WACA on Saturday.
Voges has an embarrassment of riches when it comes to his pace stocks - something that is going to give him some major selection headaches.
"When you've got Coulter-Nile, Behrendorff, AJ Tye, Jhye Richardson, Matt Kelly, Joel Paris, Cameron Green - what goes through my mind is how I'm going to squeeze them all in," Voges said.
"The competition for spots is really healthy.
"There's no doubt there's going to be some guys who will be disappointed because unfortunately we can't fit everyone in."
Richardson, who dislocated his right shoulder while playing for Australia in March, will make his return against the Bushrangers in the One Day Cup season opener.
Voges is confident opener Shaun Marsh, who recently required stitches to fix split webbing in his hand, will be fit to take on the Bushrangers.
Mitch Marsh and Cameron Bancroft only returned from the Ashes on Wednesday and a decision on their availability is yet to be made.
Australian Associated Press
