For 2015 WC final MoM James Faulkner, eyes are all set on next mega event

For James Faulkner, the time since Australia won their last World Cup in 2015 has been long. The 28-year-old left-arm fast bowler, who was picked as the Man of the Match in the final of the 2015 edition against New Zealand, did not find the momentum after that as he would have wished to see and was excluded from the national squad for last year’s Champions Trophy, the second biggest tournament after the World Cup.

The Tasmania-born cricketer made a comeback to the Australian limited-overs side for the tour of India last year but hasn’t played ever for the Baggy Greens for almost a year now. A veteran of 69 ODIs besides 24 T20Is and a solitary Test, Faulkner has signed a deal with Lancashire keeping in mind the World Cup in England next year.

With Australia not in the best of health in terms of injuries and ban to some of its key players, the Tasmanian’s aspiration to don the yellow jersey for his country is not unrealistic.

‘Have not given up hope of playing for Australia’

“I’ve never given up hope of playing for Australia again,” cricket.com.au quoted Faulkner as saying. “I think I can still offer something and my experience of English conditions will hopefully carry some weight. But I know that counts for nothing unless I can have strong season for Tasmania and that is my goal.”

Faulkner has over 1,000 runs in ODIs that include a century besides 96 wickets and that make him quite a handy player to have in the eleven. He made an impressive debut in international cricket in 2013 and did well in the World Cup, played at home three years ago.

“I’d love to be back here helping us retain our World Cup. Winning man of the match three years ago was a career highlight and I’d love to repeat it,” he said. Australia will be defending their fifth world title in England though their current form has not been encouraging enough.

They were beaten 0-5 by the Three Lions in a five-match series a few months back. The left-arm bowler is currently busy preparing for the JLT Cup in which he will appear for Tasmania.

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