Talented allrounder James Faulkner has already established himself as one of Australia’s irreplaceable short-form players – but he’s set his eyes on greater bounties.
Barely a year into his international career the 23-year-old is entrenched in both australia’s one-day and Twenty20 lineups due to his allround ability.
Pegged initially as a bowling allrounder, Faulkner has shone at domestic and international level as a left-arm quick who can clock the speed gun at over 140km/h and has subtle variations that suit the one-day arena.
But it is his rapid rise as a match-winning lower order hitter that has put him on the back page of newspapers in the past six months – and Faulkner wants to expand that part of his game even more, with a view to forcing his way up the order in all forms of the game.
“At the moment I think my one-day batting has really come along,” said Faulkner, who has yet to hit a first class century but late last year blasted the quickest ODI century by an Australia when he smashed 116 against India in Bangalore.
“I am batting at seven or eight at the moment and in all seriousness I want to be batting up the order at some stage in my career in one day cricket and likely Test cricket as well.
“Whenever I am given an opportunity no matter where it is, if it is in the top six or at seven or wherever it is, I want to take the opportunity with both hands.”
There are few more confident players in the Australian setup than Faulkner, and he’s made a point of achieving the tasks he’s set in his burgeoning career to date.
So it would be unwise to pigeon-hole him purely as a bowling allrounder even at this stage of his career, when he averages 30 with the bat and 23 with the ball in first class cricket.
“It is a matter of working hard but at the end of the day I don’t get a say in where I bat,” he said. “It is a matter of scoring runs domestically and when I play for Australia scoring runs as well.”
jammel
Guest
Agree with those saying that Faulkner needs to aim to be one of the best three quicks - that's the real viable long-term option for him. But in order to do this he needs to aim higher - i.e. don't aim to be a "holding" bowler with control, as a third pace option. Aim to be an opening Test bowler! If Faulkner aims to replicate what Siddle's done, he'll always be vulnerable to a genuine paceman/opening bowler - i.e. Australia could be playing Pattinson, Cummins and Starc in Tests in a few years - each of whom is a genuine opening bowling option.
twodogs
Guest
And by the way, he's a better player than Starc.
twodogs
Guest
Forget the "couple 'o' seasons" garbage, he's a shoe in. He's good enough now. Get him in asap. A better prospect you won't find for some time. Remember Jamie Siddon? A real developing talent he was. Guess what happened? Just another season in shield. Just a couple more then you'll be ready mate. Just a couple more. And that my friends, is where he stayed.
Pope Paul VII
Guest
Agreed.
jameswm
Guest
Well you need to be one or the other. You need to be either the 3rd best paceman (or =3rd best) or get your batting to the point where you can bat at no.6 in tests.
Pope Paul VII
Guest
Goodo but Jimmy old son you need to become third paceman in the meantime. Johnners, Starc better bats in the longest game and you don't hear them clamouring for a promotion. This is probably because test batting is hard but what do I know?
Nudge
Guest
That's what he has to do, but his first class batting average and the fact hes never scored a first class ton suggests that that is going to be a very tough ask. I don't think he will ever be someone that can average 40 with the bat in test cricket and with the young bowlers coming through I'd be surprised if he ever plays more than 20 tests
jameswm
Guest
Avrage 45 for a couple of Shield seasons and fight for the no.6 spot. Faulkner and Maxwell would be great for Australia batting there, as the 5th bowler.