ITCHING TO GO

A L L - R OUNDER J a me s Faulkner has described his knee injury as “complex” but has declared himself a certain starter for Thursday’s Big Bash semi against his former side.

The star Hurricane missed the team’s last two matches with a knee problem, which flared early against the Adel- aide Strikers in Launceston, with the club opting to take a cautious approach with its key weapon.

While the soreness is in his “good” knee — and not the troublesome one that has impacted his availability in the longer forms of the game in the past few years — Faulkner was unable to shed any light on the issue yesterday.

However, he is itching to get back on the park as Hobart looks to make use of its first home Twenty20 final since BBL|01 against the Melbourne Stars. “It’s pretty complex, I don’t want to go and talk about it now. I don’t really know myself,” Faulkner said of the ailment that has side- lined him for the past week.

“I have seen medical staff in Melbourne and I am fine to go. Once I step over the line it is business as usual.

“I felt it about fourth ball of that innings [against the Strikers]. I ended up only having to bowl another two and a half overs, which was a good thing, even though we got pumped. “I will be fine on Thursday.” Faulkner, who returned home for the Big Bash this summer after spending the first seven seasons with the Stars, has been a vital cog in Hobart’s bowling group.

He has been entrusted with bowling the first over — and often a second in the powerplay — as well as assist close out the innings, and leads the side with 18 wickets for the tournament.