No balls can cost Oz bowlers Ashes selection, warns Nielsen

MELBOURNE - Australian coach Tim Nielsen has warned his bowlers to stop bowling no balls or it could cost them a berth in the Ashes Tests.

Nielsen was furious that his players were called for overstepping the mark 22 times in 80 overs during the four-day match against Sussex County in Hove on Friday.

With competition so tight for bowling spots, he admitted it could make the difference at the selection table before the first Ashes Test on July 8 in Cardiff, FOX Sports reported.

“You would hope not, but yes. The thing is, it seems to me where ever we play the length between the popping crease and the stumps is the same. It is something we have to fix up,” Nielsen said.

Brett Lee bowled eight no balls, Peter Siddle and Ben Hilfenhaus on five occasions each and even off-spinner Nathan Hauritz crossed the line three times.

“Shocking, pulling my hair out about that, (it is) the only thing I am a bit grumpy about. I think we bowled about 18 or 19 of them so look I think … I don’t know. We don’t bowl them in Twenty20 maybe because it is a free hit so the implications are greater for a no ball in Twenty20 cricket,” Nielsen said.

Like other grounds in England, the County Ground in Hove has a significant slope and Nielsen admitted this had been a factor. (ANI)