Back on deck and James is loving it

JAMES Faulkner was back playing for Australia last night as the Tasmanian all-rounder tried to put injuries and an unexplained axing to the back of his mind. The game in Chennai, against an Indian Board President’s XI, was a warm-up for the upcoming one-day and T20 series against the home nation.

JAMES Faulkner did not stew for too long when he was dropped from the Australian one-day team, even though he did not know why he was axed.

The allrounder has been recalled to the Aussie line-up for the five-match limitedovers series against India, which starts in Chennai on Sunday, having been dumped for the unsuccessful Champions Trophy campaign in June.

Faulkner, who was man of the match in the 2015 World Cup final, said the only feedback he had for being overlooked was that his bowling pace may have dropped, which was more confusing than anything as pace variation is at the core of his bowling.

“Any time you miss out on selection it’s tough. I have had a good chance now to have four months out of the game, and I had a bit of a pre-season which was nice — get strong and fit again,” he said.

“I have been battling the past 18 months to be honest. Just physically with my knee and the state it has been in. But it’s as good as it’s been at the moment so I am pretty happy.

“My training definitely changed. I spent a lot of time on the bike. I haven’t spent any time running, other than fielding and net sessions when I am bowling. That’s the big change.

“And in the gym, there are exercises I can’t do, but some I can. It’s about being disciplined with them.”

Faulkner did not want to talk too much about his dumping, which also included missing out on a national contract this year. Instead he wanted to focus on the future.

“It was pretty tough. You have to rely on your friends and family and teammates as well. Then it’s up to you to bounce back,” he said.

“I didn’t get too much feedback. I just reflected myself and wanted to get back in. It was up to me. I put that to one side and worked as hard as I could.

“I’m excited to be back in the group.”

It was pretty tough. You have to rely on your friends, family and teammates JAMES FAULKNER