Nathan Coulter-Nile happy at Daredevils

Coulter-Nile got the wickets of two of the most dangerous batsmen — Gautam Gambhir and Yusuf Pathan — in Kolkata team.

Jean-Paul Duminy and Nathan Coulter-Nile of Delhi celebrate their win over Kolkata Knight Riders

Delhi Daredevils Australian fast bowler Nathan Coulter-Nile could not have been happier as his two-wicket haul against 2012 IPL champions Kolkata Knight Riders played a big part in Delhi’s first win of the campaign on Saturday.

Coulter-Nile got the wickets of two of the most dangerous batsmen — Gautam Gambhir and Yusuf Pathan — in Kolkata team.

“Of course, it’s the first win for the boys and that is a huge positive. It was a good all-round performance by the guys. The batting performance was good right from the very start with Mayank Agarwal getting us off to a flier. He was fantastic and so were Dinesh Karthik and JP Duminy who got us home beautifully,” the fast bowler said during a post-match interview with the Indian Premier League website. Coulter-Nile was pleased with his two-wicket haul.

“It was good to get a bit of a shape there and I was hitting the right areas. Credit to Mohammed Shami as well who bowled a really good first over to get Jacques Kallis out early. Except for the wides, his first over was spot on. When I got the ball in my hand in the second over, I felt the pressure was on the opposition and I was trying to keep it up.”

The Australian says he is enjoying bowling with Indian new-ball bowler Shami. “This is just the beginning and it will be great to work with him. Shami is bowling beautifully and I was actually surprised how much skill he had. Coming to training, he hits his yorkers nine times out of 10 and gets a beautiful shape. He has a beautiful wrist position; it is very good to watch him bowl. His skill level and his changes in pace are also quite good,” Coulter-Nile added.

The Australian says he is gelling well with his teammates in his new team after playing for Mumbai last year.

“It has been an amazing time with the Delhi Daredvils. They are a great bunch of guys and I couldn’t have asked for a better team. Kevin Pietersen, especially, has been very accommodating and the support staff that we have got here is second to none.

“Gary (Kirsten) has been really good. He is always willing to come to you and have a chat and has always got an open door, which is fantastic. His insight into cricket is like nothing I have seen before. He has a lot of game awareness, which I haven’t really thought too much about. Gary literally sat me down and talked about how I construct my overs and stuff, which I have never thought about. To sit down and actually think about what I am doing is probably the biggest thing I can grasp.

“Our assistant coach Eric Simons Eric also understands my bowling and my action and it is going to be the same as it has been. I will keep working on the things he wants me to work on and get better from that.

“Delhi Daredevils is the place, which will help me grow as a cricketer. Apart from me, there are a lot of other youngsters who will come through as better cricketers and I can promise you that. I don’t think anyone here will leave Delhi Daredevils without improving their game.”