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Faulkner needs more cricket: Tigers coach

Roar Guru
7th December, 2013
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Tasmania coach Dan Marsh is concerned Australia’s 12th man James Faulkner isn’t getting enough cricket.

Faulkner could feature in the third Ashes Test at the WACA beginning on Friday with Australia’s attack backing up just four days after the Adelaide match is due to finish.

The 23-year-old allrounder missed Tasmania’s Sheffield Shield loss to NSW and will sit out the Tigers’ clash with Western Australia beginning on Sunday.

“The only concern for me with James is just getting some cricket into him,” Marsh told AAP.

“If he is to play in Perth he hasn’t played now for a couple of weeks.

“I think it’s important that he is playing.”

Marsh’s fast bowling stocks have thinned with former Test pacemen Ben Hilfenhaus (side strain) and Jackson Bird (back) out of action.

The Shield champions’ coach was hopeful Faulkner would be available for the game against the Warriors at Bellerive.

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“We were keen to get him for this game but I understand he’s with the Test team and they’re managing him the way they know how,” Marsh said.

Hilfenhaus’s best possible scenario is a return for the Hobart Hurricanes’ first Big Bash League match on December 22.

Bird is heading to the Centre for Excellence in Brisbane to work on his comeback, also slated for the BBL with the Melbourne Stars.

He bowled 13 overs in club cricket last week and will bowl another 10 this weekend.

“They’re looking for him to potentially be selectable for the back end of the Ashes series if need be,” Marsh said.

Tasmania have replaced Hilfenhaus with Andrew Fekete for the clash with WA.

The Warriors have lost pace spearhead Nathan Coulter-Nile, who is on Test standby, and former Australian allrounder Marcus North (personal leave), while John Rogers has been dropped.

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Young allrounder Ashton Turner, paceman Simon Mackin and opener Luke Towers come into the 12.

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